New Product – Battery-Powered Water Flow Meter

May 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Spot On Irrigation System Flow MeterInnoquest, Inc., is pleased to announce the first handheld battery powered flow meter designed specifically for irrigation systems and sprinkler nozzles.

Primarily for measuring the flow rate from nozzles on center pivot irrigation systems, the SpotOn Flow Meter comes with a plastic boot that is placed around the operating nozzle to capture and direct the flow downward. It is easy to use and digitally displays the flow rate in GPM, L/min or L/hr in less than a minute.

Click here for additional information

Specification

  • Range: 0.08 to 15.0 US Gal/min 0.30 to 58.0 L/min 20 L/hr to 3480 L/hr
  • Accuracy: Greater of +/- 4% or 1 least significant digit
  • Resolution: 0.01 GPM up to 9.99 then 0.1 GPM over 10.0 0.01 L/min up to 9.99 then 0.1 L/Min over 10.0 10 L/hr
  • Size: 8in.(20.3 cm) Diameter X 8in.(20.3 cm) Tall Weight: 1.2 lbs (545 grams)
  • Fluid Compatibility: Water and water based solutions only
  • Wetted Parts: Stainless Steel & Plastic

Ideal for Growers with Center Pivot Irrigation Systems

“The SpotOn Flow Meter is ideal for use by growers who use center pivot irrigation systems,” Bill Hughes, President of Innoquest, said, “but it can also be used in industrial settings and for home inspections. Although determining the flow rate of irrigation nozzles is important for a variety of reasons, it is especially critical during initial setup when the flow rate should correspond to the system’s design specifications. By measuring flow rate regularly, it’s also easy to check for nozzle wear, obstruction or regulator problems.”

Primary Uses & Features

The SpotOn Flow Meter can be used to measure the flow of irrigation nozzles, pumps and piping with flow rates up to 15 GPM. It’s also great for home inspections, e.g., checking silcocks, shower heads and sink faucets. Self- contained and battery powered, the meter features a simple, rugged design that requires no plumbing or fittings and includes no moving parts. The SpotOn Flow Meter is only compatible with water and water-based solutions and currently lists for $249.

For more information on the SpotOn Flow Meter, call 1(800) 637-1623 or visit www.SpotOnProducts.com. Innoquest, Inc. has been designing and manufacturing sensors and instruments since 1993.

To download photos, pricing and specs, visit www.spotonproducts.com. For more information or an interview, please contact: Bill Hughes, President of Innoquest, Inc. (815) 337-8555.

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New Product – Catch Can Reader for Irrigation Auditing

April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

New Product Spotlight

SpotOn® Catch Can Reader for Irrigation Auditing

SpotOn Irrigation Auditor Catch Can ReaderInnoquest, Inc., is pleased to announce the release of the first electronic, hand-held catch can reader for irrigation audits. The SpotOn Catch Can Reader can accurately measure the volume of water in each irrigation catch can in as quickly as fifteen seconds. The hand-held device is water-proof and battery powered. Once all the irrigation catch cans in a zone are measured and recorded in the device, the SpotOn Catch can reader displays the average precipitation rate and coefficient of uniformity. The information collected from the irrigation audit can then be downloaded to a PC.

Innoquest, Inc. is an innovative and award winning product design and engineering company located in Woodstock, Illinois. Innoquest has over fifteen years of experience in developing, prototyping, and manufacturing products for aerospace, agriculture, industrial and manufacturing industries.

Click here for additional information

 

Product Specifications

 

SpotOn Irrigation Auditor Catch Can Reader Display• Resolution: 0.001 Gallons (0.0038 Liters)

• Accuracy: 0.01 Gallons (0.038 Liters)

• Single can capacity up to 2.5 gallons (9.5 Liters) [25 lbs max]

• Memory Capacity: Up to 99 Tests with up to 99 cans each

• Overall Size: 2” x 3” x 13” (5cm x 7.6cm x 33cm)

• Meter Weight: 0.82 lbs (370 g)

• Battery: Requires 9 volt battery (40 hr battery life)

• PC Connection: Includes USB cable and interface software

• Data file Type: Creates Comma Separated Variable (.CSV) file for use in spread sheet programs.

• Includes hard carry case, USB cable, & PC software

• Catch cans are sold seperately

 

Fast, Accurate Measurements

“The SpotOn Catch Can Reader is intended for consultants, manufacturers, researchers and system designers in the irrigation industry,” Bill Hughes, President of Innoquest, said. “It can be used with all types of residential, commercial and agricultural broadcast type irrigation systems and greatly speeds the process of an irrigation audit by allowing catch cans to be read in seconds with a high degree of accuracy. For this reason, it’s especially beneficial for areas where water use is highly regulated.”

Automates Catch Can Work with Readings Every 15 Seconds

The SpotOn Catch Can Reader quickly determines irrigation and spray nozzle performance, including the coefficient of variation. Plus, it’s simple to use! The user places an array of catch cans around irrigation nozzle(s) or head(s), and the SpotOn Catch Can Reader functions as a stopwatch to time the irrigation system for a designated period of time. It then quickly weighs each catch can to determine the quantity of water received and records the data in memory for analysis. The Reader is battery powered and reads a can every 15 seconds to within .01 gallon (0.038L).

Once all cans are measured, the SpotOn Catch Can Reader displays average irrigation in inches, average rate in inches per hour, and coefficient of variation. It also saves all the data which can be downloaded to a computer and used to generate distribution maps with third-party software. The SpotOn Catch Can Reader currently lists for $995.

For more information on the SpotOn Catch Can Reader, call 1 (800) 637-1623 or visit http://www.SpotOnProducts.com.

Innoquest, Inc. has been designing and manufacturing sensors and instruments since 1993.

For more information or an interview, please contact:
Bill Hughes, President of Innoquest, Inc.
(815) 337-8555

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EPA WaterSense Marketing Seminar, Tuesday April 24th from 2:00 to 3:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time

April 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

EPA WaterSens LogoJoin the EPA WaterSense Team for an informative marketing seminar

Wondering how to get homeowners to stop overwatering this summer? As part of our marketing webinar series, WaterSense will tackle outdoor water attitudes, education, and outreach ideas in April. Registration is open for this month’s WaterSense/We’re for Water marketing webinar,Tuesday, April 24 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Join us for an overview of upcoming WaterSense plans, as well as a look at secondary research WaterSense conducted on outdoor water use behaviors in various communities across the country. We’ll review some of the tools WaterSense and its partners have used to reduce outdoor water use in their communities; participants will also hear first-hand from a WaterSense partner with a thriving outdoor water education campaign. Learn how you, too, can apply these methods to your own program—no matter the size—and discuss your own promotional ideas for outdoor water efficiency.

If you have a communications/outreach colleague who would benefit from any of these webinars, feel free to pass this email on. If you have not yet registered for this webinar, click here to sign up and receive dial-in information for the April 24 webinar. If you have any questions regarding We’re for Water webinars, please contact the WaterSense Helpline at watersense@epa.gov or 866-WTR-SENS (987-7367).

Thank you, and we hope you’ll be joining us!

Sincerely,

EPA’s WaterSense Team

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EPA WaterSense Partner Forum – Improving Irrigation Efficiency, Thursday, May 3rd from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

April 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Join us to learn more!

 EPA WaterSense Logo

The WaterSense program invites you to its next Partner Forum on Thursday, May 3, 2012, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time to learn about strategies for reducing outdoor water use and improving irrigation efficiency.

You will hear from WaterSense promotional and irrigation partners about effective approaches to reducing outdoor water use and exciting opportunities for collaboration on outdoor water-efficiency initiatives. We will spotlight a tool to help landscape professionals sell water-efficient irrigation and landscaping practices to potential customers, a successful rebate program for weather-based irrigation controllers, and innovative efforts to install water-efficient irrigation systems. Confirmed speakers include:

  • Dan Muelrath, City of Santa Rosa, California
  • Gary Tilkian, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • Chris Curry, Sweeney & Associates, Inc., WaterSense 2011 Irrigation Partner of the Year

Click here to register for this webinar. If you have any questions, please contact the WaterSense Helpline at watersense@epa.gov or (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367).

We look forward to speaking with you on the call!

Sincerely,

EPA’s WaterSense Team
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Welcome Sean Mullarkey, Owner of Tri State Water Works

April 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Ohio Irrigation Association welcomes Sean Mullarkey, owner of Tri State Water Works, as our newest member. Tri Sate Water Works is located in Cincinnati and is servicing landscape irrigation & lighting systems in the Greater Cincinnati area and Northern Kentucky.

Although new to our association, Sean is no neophyte to the landscape and irrigation industry. In fact, Sean has spent almost twenty-five years in our industry. Sean holds four prestigious certifications from the Irrigation Association:

— Certified Irrgation Designer

— Certified Irrigation Contractor

— Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor

— Certified Golf Course Irrigation Auditior

Tri State Water Works was started by Sean because there is a big need for quality irrigation services with a water conservation approach. Getting a landscape irrigation system functioning properly creating the greatest water savings possible is the mission of Tri State Water Works.

Sean Mullarkey Image

Sean Mullarkey, President of Tri State Water Works, Cincinnati, Ohio

“Replacing older, inefficient spray landscape irrigation systems with high efficiency drip irrigation can save, literally, thousands of gallons of water that is otherwise wasted,” says Mullarkey. ” Newer technology like weather-based control systems can increase those water savings further. Additionally, alternate water sources, like rain water harvesting, can completely eliminate the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.”

Landscape irrigation is serious business for Sean Mullarkey and Tri State Water Works. The company is offering the following services:

  • Irrigation System Design
  • Specifiations Advocation
  • Irrigation System Inspection Services
Sean has been working on landscape irrigation systems since 1988 when he was the owner of Shamrock Landscapes. Shamrock was sold to Natorps where Sean worked as a landscape designer. Sean earned a certification in landscape horticulture from Ohio State University.

 

Our Mission Statement:

  • Water is a precious resource that should be conserved for current and future generations; water is the source of life, we will respect it as such.
  • We will give back to the community through education and charitable acts to make a difference in the environment.
  • We will embrace technology, while always providing our customers no nonsense service with prompt, clear and truthful communications.

Prior to starting Tri State Water Works, Sean worked as a territory manager for Wolf Creek Company. Sean and his wife, Denise, live in Cincinnati and have two growing children – Christopher is thirteen and Malachi is eleven. Sean, a big advocate of education, is an adjunct instructor in irrigation at Cincinnati State.

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Fix a Leak Week – March 12-19th

March 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drip, drip, drip. It’s just about that time of year again. Grab a wrench, pipe tape—and your keyboard!—to celebrate the fourth annual Fix a Leak Week, March 12-18, 2012.

 Every Drop Counts

Did you know that an American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks?

Water Spout - Raci, Peru South AmericaNationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year. That’s why WaterSense reminds Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems each year during Fix a Leak Week.

WaterSense is teaming up with their partners to promote the fourth annual Fix a Leak Week, March 12-18, 2012.

From New Mexico’s search for bad flappers to leak detection efforts in Texas, West Virginia and across the nation, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in this year’s Fix A Leak Week. Explore a list of some of this year’s many events to find out more.

For all the latest on Fix a Leak Week events happening across the country, be sure to follow this on Facebook.

To keep the momentum going, partners are encouraged to use Twitter and the hashtag #fixaleak all week long to promote their efforts and the Fix a Leak Week campaign. In the meantime, don’t forget about all of the great promotional tools available on WaterSense Partner website, and make sure to check out what other partners are doing to spread the word about finding and fixing leaks.

Check out this video from Wisconsin DNR.

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Irrigation 101 Class at the CENTS Show a Huge Success

March 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Irrigation System SplashOn a chilly Sunday morning January 22nd, Scott Knowles, president of the Wolf Creek Company,  and John Newlin, owner of  Quality Sprinkler Systems in Lorraine, Ohio, taught a group of twenty-three participants the basics of landscape irrigation installation at the Ohio Nurserymen & Landscape Association Short Courses.  The Ohio Irrigation Association was well represented as our members, Scott and John, lead the students through the process of how to install a landscape irrigation system.

Participants actually constructed a working landscape irrigation system.

Being winter, the irrigation system was constructed in one of the Ohio State campus green houses.  The system consisted of rotor, spray head, and drip zones.  The valves were wired to a controller and they even installed a booster pump!  “This is the phase where it comes together for people”, said Scott. After installation students were shown how to adjust sprinklers and some tips and tricks to finish the job.

Denise Johnson, a leader in the Ohio State University landscape program, requested the class be part of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association’s  Short Courses because of member demand.  Due to material, space, and coordination the class size was capped at 20, although Denise let a couple extra in but turned away a few others. “I enjoyed sharing my lifetime experience to help others” said John Newlin.  John also reported that several students approached him the next day on the CENTS trade show floor to compliment him for the class.  Scott Knowles says all the evaluations came back with glowing remarks.  Denise was very happy with the results.Ohio State Greenhouse

Scott organized the event with Denise and arranged for the materials to be on hand.  It was a team teaching effort with knowledge and the wealth of experience these two irrigators have being shared in presentations and lots of questions and discussions.  The most exciting part was the hands on work.  Students practiced gluing pipe, connecting wires, etc before the final project, building a functioning irrigation system!

This is the second successful year of  the Ohio Irrigation Association partnering with the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association Short Course program.  Last year Scott Knowles and John Newlin conducted an Irrigation Association Landscape Irrigation Auditor program to another full house.  Denise has already asked that we do a class again at the 2013 show.

“I enjoyed sharing my lifetime experience to help others” said John Newlin.  John also reported that several students approached him the next day on the CENTS trade show floor to compliment him for the class.  Scott says the evals all came back with glowing remarks.  Denise was very happy with the results.

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Ohio Irrigation Association Announces a Partnership with the Irrigation Association

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Irrigation Association Logo

The Irrigation Association and the Ohio Irrigation Association are pleased to announce a collaborative partnership agreement that reaches beyond traditional scope the Irrigation Association’s Affiliate Organization structure.

Traditionally, the Irrigation Association works with regional, state and international irrigation and green industry associations for the benefit of their respective memberships.

The Irrigation Association partners with our affiliate organizations to:

  • Improve industry proficiency and professionalism.
  • Define best practices for effective water management.
  • Promote efficient irrigation and sound water management.
  • Influence public policy at the local, state, regional and national level.

“This initiative is very important to us,” says Deborah M. Hamlin, Irrigation Association executive director. “Each organization will benefit from the assistance provided by the other to achieve similar goals – enhanced product and service provision to those in the irrigation industry.”

This new agreement promises to a be significant step in developing a proactive collaborative process that enhances the effectiveness of both organizations. The memorandum of understanding was signed on February 21, 2012 by John Dolle, President of the Ohio Irrigation Association and Deborah Hamlin CAE, Executive Director of the Irrigation Association.

Under this agreement, the members of the Ohio Irrigation Association stand to benefit from an increased level of communications between the two organization. The new level of communication will provide the following benefits:

  • Insight into primary interests and concern’s of the respective memberships of both organizations.
  • Joint marketing efforts design to promote professionalism and water saving within the irrigation industry.
  • Frequent and collaborative communication design to promote membership and participation in both organizations.

“We look forward to working with the Irrigation Association to further advance our membership opportunities,” said John Dolle, President of the Ohio Irrigation Association. “Membership in the Ohio Irrigation Association is a great way to showcase irrigation education, meetings, standards, professionals and the outlook of the irrigation industry.”

As part of this agreement, the Irrigation Association will work in concert with Ohio Irrigation Association to offer support for their membership marketing efforts, while OIA will help IA promote key events such as the Irrigation Show to its membership.

To learn more about this partnership or to become a partner, contact IA Membership Manager Marcia Cram.

About the Irrigation Association

The Irrigation Association (IA) is the leading membership organization for irrigation companies and professionals. Together with thier members, the Irrigation Association is committed to promoting efficient irrigation and to long-term sustainability of water resources for future generations. The Irrigation Association works to improve industry proficiency, advocate sound water management, and grow demand for water-efficient products and services. For more information visit www.irrigation.org.

About the Ohio Irrigation Association

The Ohio Irrigation Association (OIA) was founded with the goal of irrigation professionals coming together from all over this great state in hopes of improving landscape irrigation standards in Ohio. The Ohio Irrigation Association offers educational events and technical information to raise the level of professionalism within the landscape irrigation industry. For more information, visit www.ohioia.org.

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EPA WaterSense Webinar: Environmental Education Initiatives, February 23rd from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

February 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

EPA WaterSense Banner

Join the EPA WaterSense Team on February 23rd from 4:00 to 5:30pm for a FREE webinar to learn about several innovative environmental education and outreach activities of other WaterSense partners. The groups below are helping to create a nationwide, long-term water-efficiency ethic and will give short 15 minute presentations on their projects during the following webinar. We hope this will provide a chance for information and idea exchange as well as an opportunity to collaborate on these exciting initiatives.

WHEN

February 23, 2012; 4:00 – 5:30pm

REGISTRATION

Please register here

Use the following call-in information:

Call-in Number: 1-888-346-3659

Passcode: 45444

Please direct any questions regarding this webinar to the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) or e-mail here.

 

AGENDA

National Environmental Education Foundation- Be Water Wise

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) will present Be Water Wise, a water conservation education program that engages teachers, facilities staff and students from public schools in classroom learning and hands-on projects that address local water issues (e.g. conservation or stormwater management). After pilots in Miami, Atlanta, and Washington, DC (currently underway), NEEF is collaborating with Discovery Communications on a model for national replication.

 

University of Arizona- Conserve to Enhance

Conserve to Enhance is an innovative program designed to provide a direct link between water conservation by water users and environmental enhancement in their community.

 

Wyland Foundation- National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation

The Wyland Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit public charity that encourages environmental awareness about our ocean, waterways, and marine life, will be discussing non-traditional incentives to encourage smart water stewardship including their upcoming National Mayors Challenge for Water Conservation.

 

OneChange.org- This Blue Dot

One Change is a charitable organization based in Ottawa, Canada that encourages people to believe that simple actions matter and to make smart choices to protect the environment. “This Blue Dot” is a water conservation program encouraging people to detect and repair toilet leaks using a non-toxic, vegetable-based blue dye tablet.
(866)WTR-SENS (987-7367) | www.epa.gov/watersense | watersense@epa.gov
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Call 811 Before You DIG ! ! ! It’s the Law

January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

OPUS 811 LogoCall 8-1-1 or 1-800-362-2764 before you dig: It’s the law!

By law, everyone MUST contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service, 8-1-1 or 1-800-362-2764, at least 48 hours but no more than 10 working days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) before beginning ANY digging project.

A vital resource for Ohio residents and businesses alike, the Ohio Utilities Protection Service acts as a communication link between utility companies and individuals planning any digging activity.

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