The smart irrigation control system installed in Balboa Park significantly reduced manual labor costs and water usage by automatically adjusting 60 controllers and their 24-48 zones based on real-time weather data. This solved problems of under-watering, over-watering, and plant/soil damage from the previous manual system. Labor hours for shutoffs decreased by 90% and water usage was reduced while expanding public access and use of the park. Further system features may provide even more savings and benefits in the future.

1. Smart Irrigation Control
Challenges
• Significant amount of manual labor required
to turn irrigation on and off
• Very time-consuming and costly
• Some landscape under-watered and even
more over-watered
• Some plant health suffered; erosion occurred
• Wasted water and money for it
Solution
• Installed smart irrigation control system that communicates with a weather station located in Balboa Park
• Chose the Toro Sentinel system
• Controlled by a central computer system which adjusts
based on real time data received by the weather station
• 60 controllers in the park: each has beetween 24-48
watering zones
• Staff equipped with hand-held devices for local control
Current and
Future Outcomes
• Achieved large savings in labor hours-- For xxample,
labor hours for shutoffs is 1/10 of what it was before
• Reduced water usage
• Reduced damage to plants and soil
• Expanded hours of passive use within the park for the
public
• Next desired phase – investigate and implement more
of the system’s features for even further savings and
benefits
The mission of Friends of Balboa Park is to preserve Balboa Park’s legacy for future generations through park-wide projects.