HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 11/16/2021 - Memorandum From Mariel Miller Re: 2021 Sprinkler Checkup Program Annual Report
Utilities
electric · stormwater · wastewater · water
222 Laporte Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.212.2900
V/TDD 711
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: November 5, 2021
TO: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers
FROM: Mariel Miller, Water Conservation Specialist
THROUGH: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
Theresa Connor, Interim Utilities Executive Director
Gretchen Stanford, Interim Utilities Deputy Director, Customer Connections
RE: 2021 Sprinkler Checkup Program Annual Report
Bottom Line: Water Conservation completed a successful 2021 Residential Sprinkler Checkup
season, conducting 505 residential sprinkler checkups across Fort Collins Utilities (Utilities),
Fort Collins-Loveland (FCLWD) and East Larimer County (ELCO) water districts from May
through September 2021. The table below illustrates where checkups occurred within each water
district, both inside and outside the city limits, as well as inside and outside Growth Management
Areas (GMA), in 2021.
Location Utilities ELCO FCLWD Total
Inside city limits 258 33 102 393
Outside city limits, within GMA 4 8 3 15
Outside GMA 0 2 95 97
Total 262 43 200 505
Background: previously known as Sprinkler Audit -
began in 1999, offering free 90-minute checkups to residential customers. A checkup includes a
thorough visual inspection of the system, a custom watering schedule, and recommended
upgrades and repairs. Over the last 23 years we have conducted 7,303 checkups and reduced
over 92 million gallons of water. Annually, the program contributes to around 57% of Water
typical year, we hire four seasonal technicians. In total, we have hired approximately 63
Sprinkler Checkup Technicians, a few of which have gone on to full-time positions with the city.
2021 Program Highlights:
The Sprinkler Checkup program surpassed the previous record of 456 checkups, from
2010, with a total of 505 Sprinkler Checkups, including both automated and non-
automated checkups.
96% of customer survey respondents made changes to their system or controller post-
checkup.
Post-checkup customer report turn-around time averaged 2 days after sprinkler checkups
were conducted.
15,896 sprinkler heads were inspected (73% were reported to be in good condition, with
the remaining 27% exhibiting operational problems that often lead to overwatering or
wasted water).
The Water Conservation Team and Sprinkler Checkup Technicians continued to monitor
the COVID-19 pandemic and comply with CDC recommendations to ensure staff and
customer safety.
This year Water Conservation implemented the following program enhancements and changes:
The name of the program was changed prior to the 2021 season from Sprinkler Audit to
Sprinkler Checkup
ate, and create
long term conservation behaviors with customers.
Implementation of non-automated sprinkler checkups allowed the Sprinkler Checkup
Program to reach customers with non-automated, above-ground sprinkler systems who
have previously been ineligible for a checkup. A non-automated checkup included
analysis of the irrigation area and recommendations for efficiency as well as providing
customers with a free hose timer.
Demographic questions were incorporated into the post-checkup evaluations that are sent
electronically to each customer seven days following the checkup. These questions
surveyed customers on a variety of demographics and allow staff to assess where the
program is under and overrepresenting the community, to inform where there might be
barriers in reaching certain members of the community.
Over the years, we have evolved the program to incorporate new technology, improve the
customer experience, and increase program effectiveness. Starting in 2009, we expanded the
education and outreach provided by the program to assist customers within FCLWD. We now
also partner with ELCO and provide checkups to FCLWD and ELCO customers who reside
Please find the 2021 Sprinkler Checkup Program annual report attached.
and more information at: fcgov.com/sprinkler-checkups.
CC: Abbye Neel, Interim Water Conservation Manager
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
1
BACKGROUND
2021 marked the 23rd year of the Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program previously known as Sprinkler Audits
which provides free water efficiency evaluations of residential sprinkler systems. These assessments cover system
efficiency, optimal operation, and potential water-saving upgrades. Sprinkler checkup technicians also discuss turf
health, landscape transformation, and indoor conservation. After the site visit, participants receive a follow-up report
that includes advice on efficient lawn watering, as well as a customized watering schedule and list of needed repairs and
potential upgrades. Over the years, the service has grown to include other water districts and multiple enhancements.
BENEFITS
During the summer months, about 60% of all treated water is used outdoors. The benefits of educating our community
and fostering better management of irrigation include:
.
Reducing peak usage .
Reducing summer water bills for customers.
Reducing run-off and keeping excess irrigation from taking fertilizer and other pollution into waterways.
Helping the community adapt to a changing climate and improve resiliency to drought.
PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS
505 sprinkler systems across three water districts were assessed in 2021. This is 27% more checkups than were
completed in 2020, and it broke the previous record of 456 checkups. We exceeded our goal of 400 checkups by over
25%. In 2021, July was our busiest season of the month with 160 checkups, which amounts to 40 checkups per week.
Number of Sprinkler Checkups by Water District and Month
May Jun Jul Aug Sep Total
Utilities 6 93 82 54 27 262
FCLWD 1 54 60 82 3 200
ELCO 0 10 18 10 5 43
Total 7 157 160 146 35 505
2018
Landscape
Water Budget and
Geographic
Information Systems
(GIS) Tools
incorporated.
2019
Introduction of
the Sprinkler Audit
Plus program, ongoing
monthly reports for
customers and GIS
mapping
enhancements.
2020
Continued
program with adapted
methods through
COVID-19 pandemic
and increased reliance
on GIS software.
2021
Continued
adapted COVID-19
precautions and
introduced new non-
automated checkups
and demographic
evaluations.
505
Total
Checkups
Completed
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
2
Sprinkler Checkup technicians used an online application and
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to collect unique data at
each site and provide the following program results:
Assessed 1,969,068 square feet (41 football fields)
of turf.
Reduced usage by 2,146,284 gallons (equivalent to
the water use of about 26 homes for one year1).
Changed schedules on 58% of controllers to be
more efficient.
Averaged a 2-day turnaround from sprinkler
checkup completion to customer report delivery.
Participation from FCLWD customers was 27% greater in 2021 than 2020. The agreement with FCLWD was updated mid-
season to include additional checkups (from 150 to 200) to accommodate the large volume of FCLWD participants. The
increase followed promotion via emails sent to customers, Facebook posts, and newsletter excerpts by FCLWD. Utilities
also saw an increase in participation from its customers: 179 checkups in 2020 compared to 262 checkups in 2021. This
is likely the result of a delayed start to the 2020 season due to the pandemic, which resulted in a 25% shorter season.
1 The average annual residential water use for Fort Collins Utilities water service customers in 2018-2020 was 83,000 gallons.
2 days per week for
irrigation events were compared before and after the checkup date. A coefficient for gallons saved per square foot of audited area was established
and then multiplied to reflect the savings over the average 16-week irrigation season. In previous years, staff has used a coefficient based on
savings per checkup, which is not as accurate due to a wide range in property sizes. The gallons saved per square foot estimate for Fort Collins
Utilities was then extrapolated across the partnering districts to estimate the total gallons of water reduced for the entire season.
3 re conservative as they only consider checkups where the technician or the homeowner re-programmed the
controller during the checkup. There are likely customers who later reprogrammed the controller and made repairs or upgrades to their system
that also resulted in water conservation.
Water
Service
District
Average area
assessed per
home (sq. ft.)
Completed
checkups
Total area
assessed (sq. ft.)
Estimated water
reduction (gal)2
Controllers
changed (%)3
Utilities 3,184 262 834,188 909,265 58%
FCLWD 4,712 200 942,442 1,027,240 56%
ELCO 4,476 43 192,458 209,779 60%
Total 3,899 505 1,969,068 2,146,284 58%
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
3
PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK
Following each sprinkler checkup, customers were sent an online evaluation survey to gather information about the
value of the checkup, what was learned, what changes were made post-checkup, and demographic information. We
received 108 responses; 96 indicated that the sprinkler checkup exceeded expectations, while 12 indicated the
checkup met expectations.
100% of Checkups Met or Exceeded Customer Expectations
Customer Comments
The report is great and very detailed also the friendliness of [the technician] was awesome. It was like getting advice
from a friend.
-Daniel D, Utilities Customer
It was thorough and clearly explained. [The technician] was a joy and very professional. All of my questions were
answered and followed up with an email.
-Grace T, Utilities Customer
[The technician] was helpful, polite, thorough...this checkup far exceeded my expectations.
-Wendy V, Utilities Customer
This is a great service from Fort Collins! I learned a lot and really appreciate the report to work from.
-Salley W, ELCO Customer
-Meg S, FCLWD Customer
[the technician] and it was great. The follow up document is also
excellent
-James G, FCLWD Customer
21%
Response
Rate
89%
Exceeded
Expectations
11%
Met
Expectations
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
4
Program Participant Demographics
For the first time in the program, the post-checkup evaluations included optional questions about various demographics.
Of the 108 participants from all three water districts that completed a post-checkup evaluation, 105 answered some
or all the demographic questions within the post-checkup evaluation. The responses were compared to total population
demographics for the City of Fort Collins and for Larimer County, since checkup participants from the various water
districts may reside outside of Fort Collins city limits. More information on how this will be used in future years can be
found on page 8.
Household Income
This table compares household income percentages of customers that took part in the Sprinkler Checkup Program and
completed the evaluation to the population with the city of Fort Collins and Larimer County. From this data, we see that
the survey responses are generally underrepresented within the income range of $15,000-$74,999 and overrepresented
within the income range of $75,000-$150,000, when compared to total population. Outreach and marketing efforts to
attract a more diverse group of participants will be a priority in future years to increase representation to closer reflect
the population.
Household
Income4
Sprinkler
Checkups
Larimer
County
City of Fort
Collins
Less than $15,000 0% 8.23% 13.68%
$15,000-$24,999 0.95% 7.31% 9.05%
$25,000-$34,999 1.90% 6.03% 10.62%
$35,000-$49,999 8.57% 10.24% 12.12%
$50,000-$74,999 3.81% 18.10% 16.02%
$75,000-$99,999 18.10% 14.30% 13.78%
$100,000-$149,999 23.81% 16.79% 15.36%
$150,000-$199,999 6.67% 9.58% 4.94%
$200,000 or More 9.52% 9.47% 4.43%
Decline to Specify 26.67% N/A N/A
4 Household Income: Larimer County data sourced from: Larimer County Housing and Living Statistics. URL: https://www.larimer.org/about-
larimer-county/vital-statistic-census-information/larimer-county-housing-living-statistics
City of Fort Collins data sourced from: City of Fort Collins Equity Team-Public Participation Report 2017. URL:
https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/files/publicparticipationreport-final.pdf?1557934233
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
5
Race
This table shows a breakdown of race and ethnicity demographics of program participants that completed an evaluation
compared with those of Larimer County and City of Fort Collins residents. The data shows that like Larimer County and
City of Fort Collins, most of the participants are white. 3.81% of participants identified as having Hispanic or Latino
Origin, which is lower than the population comparisons. Of those four participants, two identified that their race is
white, one identified that their race is American Indian/Alaskan Native, and one identified that their race is Asian.
Outreach and marketing efforts to attract a more diverse group of participants will be a priority in future years to
increase representation to closer reflect the population.
Race5 Sprinkler
Checkups
Larimer
County
City of Fort
Collins
American Indian/
Alaskan Native
0.95% 0.40% 0.43%
Asian 4.76% 2.40% 3.64%
Black/African American 0.95% 1.00% 1.35%
Hispanic/Latino Origin
(Of Any Race)
N/A6 12.40% 12.37%
Other Race 0% 0.50% 0.49%
Two or More Races 1.90% 4.60% 4.81%
White 80.95% 78.70% 76.92%
Decline to Specify 10.48% N/A N/A
Ethnicity Sprinkler
Checkups
Larimer
County
City of Fort
Collins
Hispanic/Latino Origin
(Of Any Race)
3.81% 12.40% 12.37%
Non-Hispanic/Latino
Origin
80.95% N/A N/A
Decline to Specify 15.24% N/A N/A
5 Race: Larimer County data sourced from: Census Data for Colorado (2020). Data Set: Population by Race and Ethnicity 2020 Counties. URL:
https://demography.dola.colorado.gov/census-acs/2020-census-data/#census-data-for-colorado-2020
City of Fort Collins Data sourced from: Census Data for Colorado (2020). Data Set: Population by Race and Ethnicity 2020 Municipalities. URL:
https://demography.dola.colorado.gov/census-acs/2020-census-data/#census-data-for-colorado-2020
6 N/A represents demographic answers not included within the column data for the Sprinkler Checkup Program or other data
sources (the Program separated race from ethnicity, which wasn t consistent with the comparison data). Next year, demographic
answers for evaluations will be matched to population data for better table comparisons.
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
6
Property Occupants Status
This table shows property occupants status of sprinkler
checkup participants who completed the evaluation.
This data shows that most program participants own
their home as compared to renting. Outreach and
marketing efforts, program changes and other tactics
will be considered to better address program barriers
associated with renter populations, since around 50% of
households are renters in Fort Collins and the survey
responses are only 7.7% renters.
Property
Occupant Status
Percentage of
Responses
Other 0.96%
Own 87.50%
Rent 7.69%
Decline to Specify 3.85%
Length of Residence in Fort Collins Area
This table shows the length of residence in the Fort
Collins area for Sprinkler Checkup Program participants
that completed an evaluation. This is significant as it
shows that new homeowners/residents and those that
have lived in the area for a long period of time are most
interested in having their irrigation system evaluated.
These responses are reflected of outreach efforts we
encourage new homeowners/residents that may have
little experience with their sprinkler system and are new
to the climate and lawn needs of Northern Colorado to
participate.
Length of Residence
in Fort Collins Area
Percentage of
Responses
1-5 Years 34.29%
6-10 Years 14.29%
11-15 Years 9.52%
16-20 Years 3.81%
More Than 20 Years 32.38%
Decline to Specify 5.71%
Post-Checkup Evaluation
Customer Data Highlights
96%
of customers made
changes to their system
or controller post-
checkup.
50%
of customers learned
what the cycle-soak
method was.
64%
improved controller
settings (implementing
cycle-soak, reducing days
per week, etc.).
59%
of customers learned
their watering schedule
should change during the
season to account for
weather changes.
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
7
RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Training
Training conducted in the office and in the field was done with caution; all staff involved maintained distance when
possible. Water Conservation staff worked with Safety & Risk Management staff to advise technicians and staff on
proper personal protection equipment (PPE) use, customer interactions, potential COVID-19 threats associated with the
program, and how to mitigate such threats.
Customer Outreach
To ensure the safety of both customer and technician, staff
engaged with customers prior to their scheduled sprinkler
checkup. By email and phone, staff asked screening questions
to ensure the customer, those in their household, and those
they interact with did not have COVID-19 or show signs of
illness. Anyone who had symptoms that could be related to
COVID-19 themselves or had been exposed to someone
developing illness had their appointment canceled and were
asked to reschedule. Pre-checkup outreach emails to
customers also set expectations for COVID-19 precautionary
procedures taken by technicians during the appointment. Pre-
checkup outreach creates transparency between customers
and staff, keeping both parties safe.
The mask mandate was lifted in Fort Collins on May 17 and checkups are conducted outside, so when sprinkler checkup
technicians arrived at appointments, they asked the customer about their preferences with masks, distancing, and
interaction during the checkup. Doing this prior to the checkup with the customer ensures all parties are comfortable
and feel safe for the duration of the checkup. Overall, checkups included more interaction and customer involvement
than the 2020 season. For the second year in a row, sprinkler checkups were only scheduled for customers with
controllers located in the garage or on the outside of the house. COVID-19 precautions, paired with routine checkup
procedures, helped ensure safe and effective sprinkler checkups.
PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS
Evaluating Program Inclusivity
After evaluating numerous program changes with various groups and expert staff, with an objective to increase the
inclusivity to all community members, Staff made the following key changes prior to the start
of the 2021 season:
Changed the p name from audit to checkup.
Made non-automated, above-ground systems eligible for a checkup and created a 5:30pm appointment time.
Added demographic information to the post-checkup evaluation questions.
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
8
Program Name Change
The name of the program was changed prior to the start of the 2021 season from Sprinkler Audit Program to Sprinkler
Checkup Program. T can have negative connotations for some and could lead to confusion on the
purpose of the program.
evaluating, educating, and creating long-term conservation behaviors.
Non-Automated Sprinkler Checkups
This year, the program offered sprinkler checkups for customers with non-automated,
above-ground sprinkler systems. Many Fort Collins residents water their lawns using
hose attachment sprinklers rather than in-ground irrigation systems. The goal of the
30-minute, non-automated sprinkler checkup is to provide support to customers on
hose locations and timing for watering. Each non-automated checkup required the
technician to analyze the irrigation area, water source, type of sprinkler, and
customer concerns to make recommendations on improving coverage and irrigating
using an efficient schedule of watering days, times, and durations. Technicians supplied customers with free hose timers
during these checkups to improve efficiency and prevent overwatering. The technician also educated the customer on
resources and programs offered by Utilities, such as the Xeriscape Incentive Program. A post-checkup report was sent to
the customer, reiterating efficient above ground watering practices and general lawn care. A 5:30 p.m. evening slot was
opened for the first time to improve accessibility to customers with non-automated systems. Five participants scheduled
a non-automated checkup. Staff plans to continue this service in 2022 with more targeted outreach to non-automated
customers.
Post-Checkup Evaluation-Demographic Questions
The post-checkup evaluation survey included demographic questions for the first time in 2021. These questions
surveyed the customer on a variety of demographics including race, ethnicity, household income, length of residence in
Fort Collins, and type of residence situation (rent/own). These questions were posed to inform staff which customers
participate in the Sprinkler Checkup Program and to help identify how closely the program compares to the population
of the larger community. The comparison shows where program representation might be over or under and informs
staff where barriers might exist and where additional outreach might be needed.
Future Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Program Enhancements Under Evaluation for 2022
Hoped-for enhancements include the following:
Targeted program promotion and outreach to underrepresented groups identified in the 2021 survey results.
Like the non-automated sprinkler checkups, automated sprinkler checkups may include more evening checkup
options to minimize the barrier of having to schedule a checkup during traditional working hours.
Prioritize the hiring of a diverse intern (sprinkler technician) group, including an intern with Spanish fluency.
Consider translating program materials and outreach to Spanish.
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
9
GIS AND MAP PRODUCTION
Offline mapping capability
ensuring fast and efficient
data collection in the field
Standardized map template
ensuring quality and
consistency
High-resolution, aerial
imagery base map
Integrated map
symbols indicating
sprinkler head type,
operating condition,
and zone number
Ability to
map drip
lines
Dynamic map legend
that updates
automatically to
reflect the sprinkler
system of interest
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
10
Common Problems
A total of 15,896 sprinkler heads were inspected in
the 2021 season, including 11,600 (73%) in good
condition, with the remaining 4,296 (27%) exhibiting
operational problems. The two most common
problems in every water district were broken heads
and tilted heads. Broken heads lead to dry or dead
grass where there is a lack of water coverage, as well
as wasted water near the site of the broken head,
where water can frequently be found leaking at a
high volume. Tilted heads are often caused by lawn
mowers or nearby foot traffic, which can result in
dry or dead grass where there are uneven spray
patterns and lack of water coverage. Straightening
sprinkler heads creates an even distribution of water
with head-to-head coverage.
Monthly Landscape Water Budgets
sprinkler checkup reports for the third year in 2021. The
landscape water budget graphs display
monthly water use for up to two years and compares it to an
estimate of how much water is needed per month based on
the area of their landscape that is irrigated and daily climate
data. If excess water usage occurred in 2020, staff can
evaluate the potential for utility bill saving, in gallons and
dollars, and includes this information with the graph to
provide an estimate of potential annual savings had there
been no excess water use. This is challenging to do with only
partial data from the current irrigation year; therefore, prior year s data is needed.
Landscape
Water
Budget
Daily climate
data
Irrigated area
of turf
Up to two
years of daily
water use
data
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
11
Previous year s example of the landscape water budget graph that indicates estimated indoor water use,
efficient outdoor water use, excess water use and efficient total water use.
CITY LIMITS AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT AREA CLASSIFICATIONS
Number of 2021 Sprinkler Checkups
Location Utilities ELCO FCLWD Total
Inside city limits 258 33 102 393
Outside city limits,
within GMA 4 8 3 15
Outside GMA 0 2 95 97
Total 262 43 200 505
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
Jan-17Feb-17Mar-17Apr-17May-17Jun-17Jul-17Aug-17Sep-17Oct-17Nov-17Dec-17Jan-18Feb-18Mar-18Apr-18May-18Jun-18Jul-18Aug-18Sep-18Oct-18Nov-18Dec-18Jan-19Feb-19Mar-19Apr-19May-19Jun-19Your Water Use (Gallons)
Indoor Water Use Efficient Outdoor Water Use Excess Water Use Efficient Water Use
Estimated Annual Savings (Gal): 24,700 Estimated Annual Savings: $79 - $90
Estimated Irrigated
Area (sq ft):3,468
Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2021
12
Locations of 2021 Sprinkler Checkups