Episode 4: Smart Irrigation, Water Conservation & The After Splash Campaign

In Episode 4 of SprinklerDude’s Podcast, Justin Richards and Tony Wheeler dive deeper into what smart irrigation really means. Is it just a smart controller, or does it include proper design, pressure regulation, check valves, rain sensors, flow monitoring, and ongoing maintenance?

The conversation begins with an introduction to The After Splash, a month-long industry campaign created to keep the conversation about water conservation going beyond Smart Irrigation Month. Justin explains how irrigation professionals, manufacturers, contractors, and homeowners can get involved by sharing their own conservation efforts and helping educate others.

The discussion then shifts into real-world irrigation topics, including:

• What smart irrigation actually is
• Why proper system design matters more than expensive products alone
• The role of rain sensors, weather data, ET programming, and seasonal adjustments
• Hydrawise, Rain Bird LNK2, and Rachio controller comparisons
• Why maintenance is just as important as installation
• Low-head drainage, check valves, and pressure-regulated spray bodies
• LEED, WaterSense, and professional certifications
• The true cost versus long-term return on investing in smart irrigation
• Common mistakes contractors and technicians make in the field
• Why continuing education is one of the most valuable tools an irrigation professional can have

Whether you’re an irrigation technician, contractor, landscape professional, or homeowner looking to understand today’s irrigation technology, this episode is packed with practical advice, industry insights, and honest conversation from two professionals who work with these systems every day.

Learn more about The After Splash and how you can participate:
https://theaftersplash.com

Hunter Industries Training:
https://training.hunterindustries.com/

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If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with another irrigation professional. Your support helps us continue educating the irrigation industry one episode at a time.

This episode was supposed to be all about answering your questions, but I didn’t give everyone enough time to submit them. That’s on me, and we’ll be doing another Listener Mail episode soon.In the meantime, I catch you up on everything that’s been happening. We talk about an exciting irrigation product that was once only available overseas but now has a new home here, making it much more accessible. I also share where you’ll be able to find me at my next industry event and provide an update on this year’s The After Splash campaign.Be sure to leave your questions in the comments for the next Listener Mail episode. Whether it’s about irrigation, the SprinklerDude brand, the podcast, business, or anything else, I’d love to answer it in a future episode.Subscribe so you never miss a new episode every Sunday, plus bonus content throughout the week.Listen on your favorite podcast platform:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/033KuncR0ooNNxrsLOIrhW?si=772df71629424336Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sprinklerdudes-podcast/id6787806776iHeartRadio:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-sprinklerdudes-podcast-338301211Website:https://www.sprinklerdude.org#SprinklerDude #SprinklerDudesPodcast #Irrigation #LandscapeIndustry #TheAfterSplash #SmartIrrigation

Is smart irrigation just about installing a smart controller?Not even close.In Episode 3 of SprinklerDude’s Podcast, Justin Richards and Tony Wheeler take a deep dive into what smart irrigation really means. While smart controllers, rotary nozzles, pressure-regulated sprinkler heads, check valves, and other water-saving technologies all play an important role, they explain why none of those products can overcome a poorly designed irrigation system.During this in-depth conversation, you’ll learn:• Why proper irrigation design is the foundation of water efficiency• The role of the Irrigation Association in advancing the irrigation industry• How rotary nozzles improve distribution uniformity and reduce runoff• Why pressure regulation matters for every irrigation system• The benefits of check valves in preventing low-head drainage• How smart irrigation controllers use weather data to conserve water• Common mistakes that waste water and reduce system performance• Practical ways contractors and homeowners can build more efficient irrigation systemsWhether you’re an irrigation contractor, technician, landscape professional, municipality, or homeowner, this episode is packed with practical information that can help you irrigate more efficiently while protecting one of our most valuable resources.Thank you for listening to SprinklerDude’s Podcast!Subscribe for new full-length podcast episodes every Sunday and bonus Listener Mail episodes every Wednesday