Community Lutheran Church (CLC) in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, was struggling with an outdated 30 year old landscape and inefficient irrigation system. Annual water usage was averaging 1.2 million gallons per year, water bills were climbing, and overspray and runoff were regularly damaging the parking lot and walkways. The recent and severe drought affecting all of California made the situation even worse. Faced with emergency watering restrictions, the church turned to the local water district for help Smart Irrigation Control Previously, the church and preschool relied on two separate, older controllers to manage their irrigation which made it difficult to monitor changes. The system lacked any weather-based control capabilities and did not have any rain shutoff device to prevent irrigation in the rain. The new system features a single Rain Bird ESP-LXMEF modular controller including an SM12 expansion module to increase capacity up to 20 stations to allow for future system growth. Per local codes for a project of this size, a new FS100B brass flow sensor and PESB master valve were added to monitor flow and take advantage of the new controller's FlowSmart capabilities. A WR2 wireless rain sensor was added to prevent irrigation during rain events, and Rain Bird IQ-Cloud v. 3.0 was installed to enable remote management and monitoring from any desktop, tablet or mobile phone. IQ also brings weather-based adjustment to maximize water savings based on changes in the weather.. Pressure Regulation One of the issues identified in the water district survey report was excessive water pressure. High pressure caused many of the existing nozzles to mist and fog, which prevented even watering and led to runoff and overspray. The new system solved this through the use of Rain Bird pressure regulating spray heads and rotors. The Rain Bird 1800-SAM-P45 spray head uses an in-stem pressure regulator to ensure a steady 45 psi output which helps the new R-VAN rotary nozzles perform at their best. In the back lawn, the Rain Bird 5000-Plus-PRS series rotors also provide pressure regulation to ensure larger water drops, improved distribution, less waste and less impact from the wind. Test data has shown that as much as one gallon of water per minute per sprinkler can be saved with PRS technology. Correct water pressure is a critical factor for drip irrigation as well. By adding a Rain Bird PRS-Dial retrofit pressure regulator to the existing brass valve, a steady 30 psi could be delivered to the new dripline system for maximum water savings. Drip Conversion Throughout the church and preschool, Rain Bird drip products were used to apply water slowly right at the root zone, greatly reducing water loss from evaporation and runoff. It also will prevent overspray on sidewalks and the parking lot asphalt, which had previously experienced water damage. Rain Bird XFD Series inline emitter drip tubing was used extensively to water the new native plants and trees. For dense areas, a dripline grid was created with lateral rows spaced 18" apart. Rain Bird's innovative QF dripline header was used to speed installation of the dripline grid with its flexible barbs spaced 18" apart, making connections quick and easy. For more sparsely spaced plants, Xeri-Bug point source emitters were inserted directly into the dripline and quarter-inch tubing was used to bring water directly to each plant. In the difficult parking lot medians and patio planters, Rain Bird 1800-Spray-to-Drip Retrofit Kit was used to provide drip connection points. Since they include a built in pressure regulator and filter, the existing valves and water supply PVC could be quickly converted. In addition, the old fixed spray nozzles in the patio were replaced with PCT Pressure Compensating Bubblers which eliminated the overspray and runoff. In the larger drip zone at the back of the church, a new Quick Check Basket Filter provided industrial-strength filtration to keep out dirt and debris. Its special top indicator turns from green to red when the filter needs cleaning, making maintenance a breeze. High Efficiency Nozzles While drip irrigation was used extensively throughout the project, there were two areas of functional turf grass in the church and preschool that needed efficient overhead irrigation. On the front slope area, Rain Bird R-VAN Series hand-adjustable rotary nozzles were used along with Rain Bird's 1806-SAM-P45 pressure regulating spray heads. The R-VAN's thick wind-resistant streams ensure efficient performance in adverse real world conditions, while its large water droplets cut through the wind so water stays in the target zone without misting or fogging. The lower precipitation rate also helps to prevent runoff. The larger back lawn area behind the church patio was ideal for Rain Bird's 5006+PRS Series pressure regulating rotors. Featuring Rain Bird's high-efficiency Rain Curtain nozzles, these rotors produce larger water droplets, superior close-in watering and better distribution uniformity. Subsurface Drip Irrigation Back in the preschool area, a new section of water-efficient grass was installed for the kids to play on. This area featured Rain Bird's unique XFS Subsurface Dripline with Copper Shield Technology. The tubing was laid out in a grid pattern with lateral lines spaced every 12 inches apart to provide even watering right at the root zone. The pressure-compensating emitters are placed every 12 inches for consistent flow. Rain Bird QF Header was also used to speed installation. After installation, the drip tubing was covered with 4-6 inches of dirt and compacted to help with water distribution. The copper chip inside each emitter will help prevent root intrusion. To control the new area, a Rain Bird LFV series low flow inline valve was installed along with a Rain Bird PRF pressure regulating filter. This ensures that only clean water is delivered to the system at the optimum 30 psi pressure. Tree Watering A number of new Parkinsonia "Desert Museum" Palo Verde trees were installed on the project. To keep these new trees happy and healthy, Rain Bird's RWS-Mini Root Watering System was installed, two units for each tree. Medium-flow pressure compensating modules were connected directly to the nearby drip tubing and directed into the RWS, allowing them to bring water down to the root zone where the trees need it the most. The RWS also helps oxygen and nutrients bypass compacted soil and encourages deep root growth. On another portion of the property, RWS-Mini Root Watering Systems were used along with SPX-FLEX swing pipe and SB series Spiral Barb Fittings to water a dozen fruit trees. These trees used the built-in elbow fitting and bubbler.