By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | June 13, 2008
Landscaping around Westfield Shoppingtown Solano mall is irrigated with a satellite controlled system. Photo by Brad Zweerink
FAIRFIELD - Satellites relay data to the irrigation system at Westfield Solano Mall so 6.5 acres of landscaping gets just enough water, depending on the weather.
No wasted water. No runoff that can carry pollutants down storm drains and into creeks.
Westfield Solano Mall is a high-tech water conservation showpiece. It is taking part in a Solano County Water Agency pilot program to someday make 'smart' water management systems a way of life.
'The system has been fully operational since October,' mall manager Todd Falduti said. 'We've seen a 40 percent decrease in water usage, which has saved us 2 million gallons of water.'
The WeatherTRAK system by Petaluma-based Hydropoint is already used in other parts of the state. But such smart water management systems have yet to become popular in Solano County.
To change that, the SCWA has subsidized installing the system at such high-profile businesses as the mall in Fairfield and Lowe's Home Improvement in Vacaville.
'Every little bit helps,' SCWA General Manager David Okita said. 'We know outdoor landscaping is just a huge water use in Solano County in the summertime.'
See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.
