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It's called a “smart controller.” Packed in a small metal panel, its sophisticated technology could save Charlotte sprinkler users millions of gallons of water a year.
Now it's the focus of one of North Carolina's first controversies over federal stimulus money. By pitting small communities against big ones, it matches Davids and Goliaths on a playing field tilted in some ways toward the Davids.
“It is counterintuitive to the point where it doesn't make a whole lot of sense,” says state Rep. Kelly Alexander, a Charlotte Democrat.
At issue is a portion of the $6.3 billion the state is divvying up from the $787 billion stimulus passed by Congress this year.
Around $65 million is earmarked for water projects through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. About $40 million has already been committed to 35 projects.
That's where smart controllers come in.
CMUD seeks $500,000
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department has asked for $500,000 for a pilot project involving the devices. Instead of turning on irrigation systems for a set time, they take wireless weather feeds to determine just how much water a lawn needs based on recent rainfall or drought. A computer calibrates the amount of water to the specific type of soil.
CMUD would invite its top 100 water users to try the controllers in exchange for $500 rebates on their water bills. It says that could save up to 100 million gallons a year and serve as a model for other business and individual users.
Some controllers cost about $500. Time Warner Cable recently installed such a system at its offices on Crescent Executive Drive and expects to save $25,000 over three years.
“Any time you can reduce water use and become more efficient, the rest of the community benefits because that water becomes available for other uses,” says Maeneen Klein, CMUD's water conservation manager.
But the project ranks near the bottom of those environmental officials are considering for their next round of grants this month.
Jessica Miles, section chief in DENR's public water supply section, says the department uses several criteria to rank projects.
A review committee of engineers gives higher priority to those that would fix broken systems and correct environmental violations. By those guidelines alone, Charlotte's project falls below many others.
Population, says Miles, is a tiebreaker.
“Population is one factor working against city,” she says. “You're trying to give money to people who need money most … Smaller systems need help more than larger systems as a rule.”
Hundreds of applications
DENR officials say they've had more than 500 applications for projects that would cost a total of $1 billion. In the first round of water projects approved, 25 of the 35 grants went to towns such as Montreat, Elon and Maggie Valley with populations under 10,000. Winston-Salem got one, though only for $35,000.
Dempsey Benton, who oversees the state Office of Economic Recovery & Investment, says smaller communities often have the most need.
“I'm afraid the reality is these smaller communities are where these most severe problems are,” he says. “It's not because they're small. It's the nature of the problem that drives the situation.”
CMUD's Klein says it's a mistake to think that because a city is large, it doesn't need the help.
“We have no money for new projects – none,” she says. “We've been hit as much as anybody else.”
Mecklenburg County lawmakers are lobbying for the grant along with leaders of the Green Industry Council, a group that represents landscapers, nursery owners and irrigation contractors.
“Our take on it is here was a relatively small amount of money, but the return on that was a 100 million gallons of water a year,” says Buddy Murrow, a vice president of the council and the manager of a Huntersville nursery.
He says smaller communities would benefit by having more water available for them and by having the Charlotte project for a model.
“We hope to use it,” he says, “as a good success story.”
Jim Morrill: 704-358-5059
