Media Corner

For Immediate Release
September 19, 2005

Central Basin Grant Aids South Gate Park

New Irrigation Controllers Installed to Help Monitor Water Use

Carson, CA - South Gate Park, a 97-acre facility in the City of South Gate, will conserve approximately 23 million gallons of water annually thanks to the new Community Landscape Weather- based Irrigation Controller donated by Central Basin Municipal Water District.

Central Basin received a Proposition 13 grant to install these irrigation systems in the service area and monitor how well they benefit large landscape areas such as schools and parks. South Gate Park was selected as the program's first recipient because of the size of area that needed to be watered each week. The park operated with an old hydraulic irrigation system that could develop leaks or break a valve, wasting thousands of gallons before anyone noticed.

The new controllers reduce this problem by using wireless valves to communicate with a centralized control system. This control system monitors the amount of water used and keeps track of all the sprinkler heads, shutting them down if they break or malfunction. The problem with maintaining the old irrigation systems is that they need to be rewired, which can be very costly for the landowners. However, this system is wireless, so it works with the existing system at no extra cost to the owner.

"It's great to help communities and large landowners with the new technology we have available to us," said Dir. Olga E. Gonzalez, who represents Division IV, which includes South Gate. "When we get grants like this, it gives us a great chance to assess who could most benefit from new conservation measures and give them the tools they need to make changes."

Proposition 13, a State Grant Program, provided funds to cities, public agencies and other organizations to improve water security, drinking water sources, water efficiency, water management and watershed/wetlands protection. Central Basin's grant was one of 23 proposals to receive funding in the Water Efficiency Research and Development category.

For more information on this program, please contact the District's conservation coordinator at 310-660-6209 or gusm@wcbwater.org.