How High-Tech Irrigation Can Save You Time and Money: Scott Anderson Landscaping and Hydrawise by Hunter Industries
How High-Tech Irrigation Can Save You Time and Money: Scott Anderson Landscaping and Hydrawise by Hunter Industries
Water is precious in Sonoma Valley. Between increasing drought pressure, rising utility rates, and regional water conservation mandates, Sonoma homeowners and businesses can't afford to water inefficiently. The good news: smart irrigation technology has advanced dramatically, and the savings — in both water and money — are real.
At Scott Anderson Landscaping, we've partnered with Hydrawise by Hunter Industries as our preferred smart irrigation solution. Here's why it matters, and what it means for your property.
What Is Hydrawise?
Hydrawise is a cloud-based irrigation management system built on Hunter Industries' industry-leading controller hardware. Unlike traditional irrigation timers that simply run on a preset schedule regardless of conditions, Hydrawise integrates with real-time weather data to make intelligent watering decisions automatically.
The system uses your local weather station data — including rainfall, temperature, humidity, and wind — to adjust or suspend watering schedules in real time. If rain is forecast in the next 24 hours, your system won't run. If a heat spike is coming, it can proactively increase run times for vulnerable plants. All of this happens without you lifting a finger.
Key Features That Make a Difference
• Weather Intelligence: Hydrawise pulls data from nearby personal weather stations via the Weather Underground network, giving it hyperlocal accuracy. This is especially valuable in Sonoma, where microclimates mean one neighborhood may get morning fog while another bakes.
• Remote Management: The Hydrawise app lets you monitor and control your entire irrigation system from your phone — anywhere in the world. Heading to Napa for the weekend? Check your system, adjust a zone, or run a manual cycle from the car.
• Zone-Level Reporting: The app tracks runtime and water usage by zone, giving you a clear picture of where water is going and helping identify inefficiencies or potential leaks.
• Flow Monitoring: When paired with a flow meter, Hydrawise can detect unexpected flow rates — a signal that a broken head, burst line, or valve failure may be wasting water underground. It can alert you immediately and automatically shut off the affected zone.
• Cycle and Soak Programming: For clay soils common in parts of Sonoma Valley, Hydrawise allows cycle-and-soak scheduling — running a zone for a short burst, letting the water absorb, then running again. This reduces runoff on slopes and compacted soils significantly.
Real Water and Cost Savings
Hunter Industries reports that Hydrawise users save an average of 50% on outdoor water use compared to traditional timer-based systems. In Sonoma Valley, where the average tiered water rate for residential customers can escalate sharply in summer, that translates directly to meaningful savings on your monthly bill.
For commercial clients — wineries, hotels, office parks, and restaurants with substantial landscape areas — the savings scale accordingly. A mid-size commercial property that previously spent $1,200 per month on summer irrigation may see that number cut nearly in half after transitioning to a Hydrawise system.
Compliance With Local Water Conservation Requirements
Sonoma County and many of its municipalities have adopted tiered water pricing and seasonal outdoor watering restrictions. Smart controllers like Hydrawise are often explicitly recommended — and in some cases required — under local conservation guidelines. The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership recognizes smart irrigation controllers as one of the most impactful tools for meeting regional water reduction targets.
Some water districts also offer rebates for the installation of qualifying smart controllers. Our team can help you identify whether your property qualifies for rebate programs that offset the cost of a Hydrawise upgrade.
Our Installation Process
Scott Anderson Landscaping handles the complete Hydrawise installation — from wiring the controller to configuring each zone with the correct plant type, soil, slope, and sun exposure data. We connect the system to your Wi-Fi, download the app on your device, and walk you through how to use it before we leave.
Ongoing, the system largely manages itself. But we're always available for seasonal check-ins, system audits, and any adjustments as your landscape matures and water needs change.
Upgrade Your Irrigation System Today
If your Sonoma Valley property is still running on a basic timer, you're almost certainly overwatering — and overpaying. A Hydrawise smart irrigation system pays for itself quickly and keeps paying dividends every season. Contact Scott Anderson Landscaping today to schedule an irrigation assessment and learn how Hydrawise can work for your property.