Homeowners can save water with a tap on their smartphone.
UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences recently found that its Smart Irrigation Turf application is helping homeowners conserve water used for their lawn grass, said Kati Migliaccio, the app’s lead designer.
"It gives you a way to apply water that will meet your plants’ needs," she said. "At the same time, it will help you not over-irrigate."
The app was created in 2013, and it works by generating a schedule based on a homeowner’s information, such as where the property is located and what kind of sprinklers are being used, Migliaccio said.
Once the information is put in, the app will specify how many minutes to run water for according to the area’s weather.
UF irrigation and water resources master’s student Eliza Breder said she used the app for an irrigation class.
"I used it for a project I had," the 24-year-old said. "It was really useful for setting up an irrigation schedule."
UF IFAS research associate Bernard Cardenas-Lailhacar said he believes the app is helpful.
"It has the potential to save a lot of water if used correctly," he said.
There are more than 400 app users, Migliaccio said.
Right now, the app is only being used in Florida and Georgia because UF worked with the University of Georgia to create it.
"We’re hoping someday it will be available for anyone in the United States," she said.
The Smart Irrigation Turf smartphone app, created by UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, generates irrigation schedules for homeowners after they input information about the property.
