Let’s face it: Most in-ground sprinkler systems are anything but smart, and it’s not uncommon to observe these underground labyrinths of PVC pipe and legions of sprinkler heads running at full-tilt during a driving
rainstorm—wasting many gallons of precious water as they dutifully execute their programs. Certainly, those technologically inclined can assuage many of the water-wasting problems inherent with these systems by installing an intelligent irrigation controller setup. But for the roughly 50% of homeowners in the U.S. relying on garden hoses and above-ground sprinklers for irrigation, there have been few such smart-home tech solutions to help with mitigating water consumption in the landscape.