By Kathy Chouteau
Hercules’ city parks just got a major boost toward upgrades to their irrigation systems, expected to aid water conservation, cost reduction and environmental sustainability.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded the City of Hercules a $100,000 WaterSMART grant, making it one of only 36 agencies across the western U.S. to receive it.
Plans are in the works to replace 15 manual irrigation controllers in 10 Hercules parks with WeatherTRAK ET Pro 3 cloud-based controllers. The systems are expected to optimize water use by using real-time weather data from a weather station and soil conditions to adjust irrigation. City staff will be able to monitor irrigation via a mobile app, minimizing over-watering.
The project’s engineering design work is already completed and that installation permits will be obtained in six months, according to the city. Timeline estimates include three months for procurement of the systems and six months for installation.
“By upgrading the irrigation systems in our parks with cutting-edge technology, we are taking meaningful steps to conserve water, reduce costs and enhance our beautiful green spaces,” said Hercules Mayor Dion Bailey. He added that the project reflects the city’s commitment to responsible environmental practices and sustainable growth.
Funding for the transformative grant comes from the Bureau’s Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Program.
