Guide

Smart irrigation system cost: what sets the price?

The price of a smart irrigation system depends on the site. Valve count and how spread out the site is matter most. With ESTRON, existing pipes, sprinklers and solenoid valves stay; cost comes only from the parts you add.

• Cost factors
• Infrastructure kept
• Operating cost
• Payback
• Public procurement
• Quote checklist

What sets the price of a smart irrigation system

1. Valve count

Each controller drives two solenoid valves. Valve count sets the controller count. This is the largest cost item.

2. Version: BLE or BLE-LoRa

ESTRON BLE is programmed from a phone over Bluetooth. No gateway needed. It is the economical route for small single-valve areas.

ESTRON BLE-LoRa adds remote control, alarms and AI decisions. Recommended for parks, medians and sites with many valves. Details: battery valve controller.

3. Gateway count

The BLE-LoRa version needs a LoRaWAN gateway on site. One gateway covers up to 2 km in the city. One gateway is enough for most parks and sites. Spread-out areas need more.

4. Sensors

Rain, soil moisture and flow sensors are optional. A flow sensor is recommended for leak detection. Choose sensors by the site's priorities.

5. Software and hosting

The web panel and mobile app are offered as a cloud service. Institutions can run the software on their own server. Details: landscape irrigation software.

6. Installation

No trenching, no cabling. The controller goes into the valve box and batteries go in. Installation time depends on valve count and is short. Example setup for maintenance companies: landscape irrigation automation.

Existing infrastructure is kept

Moving to smart irrigation does not require a new irrigation system. Pipes, sprinklers, drip lines and solenoid valves stay in place. The whole system is on the smart irrigation system page.

In wired central systems the largest cost is cable and trenching. A wireless battery controller has no such item. No power supply or cabinet either. Comparison: central irrigation control system.

Operating cost: batteries, hosting, maintenance

A smart irrigation system has three operating cost items. All three are small; but they belong in the budget.

• Batteries. Each controller runs on 2 × 9 V batteries. Battery life depends on the reporting interval; with sparse reporting it lasts for years. The panel warns when a battery runs low; replacement takes minutes. The yearly battery cost is the valve count divided by battery life. See low power consumption.
• Hosting. The software is offered as a cloud service; the account, data storage and updates are covered by that service. An institution can host the software on its own server; then the server and its upkeep are the institution's. The scope is stated in the quote.
• Maintenance. With no trenching, cable ducts or cabinet, there are no cable faults and no cabinet upkeep. Maintenance is two things: a line test and sensor cleaning at season start, and a site visit when an alarm comes in season. Since faults are seen in the panel, routine site rounds decrease.

The gateway runs on mains power or a solar panel; the internet link (4G or Ethernet) comes from the institution's existing infrastructure or a separate line. This item is settled at the survey.

How does the investment pay back?

• Water. Up to 40% less water than fixed schedules. No irrigation on rainy or moist days. See water savings.
• Electricity. Less water means less pumping.
• Labour. Program changes are made in the panel. Fewer site visits.
• Leaks. The flow sensor shows a leak the same day. Water loss does not run for days. See leak detection.

To estimate your payback, last year's water bill, pump electricity and number of site visits are enough. Measuring one season on a pilot site is the most reliable way. Pilot results: reference projects.

Public procurement and specifications

Municipalities and public institutions buy the system by tender. Three sources help with the technical specification:

• Technical summary. The features of the valve controller, gateway, software and decision engine are in the table on the for municipalities page; they can go straight into the specification.
• Heading match. How ESTRON answers the sensor, controller and software headings of the Smart Cities draft specification: the xeriscape decree and the specification match.
• Pilot and phases. The purchase does not have to happen at once. One park or one boulevard is bought as a pilot; the same gateway and panel serve the later phases. Nothing bought at the start is thrown away.

On-premise hosting and SCADA integration can be written into the specification.

What we need for a quote

• Site location and number of areas
• Total number of solenoid valves
• Whether remote control is needed (BLE or BLE-LoRa)
• Sensors wanted: rain, soil moisture, flow
• Cloud or on-premise software

For tender specifications, use the technical summary on the for municipalities page. Ask for a quote for your site. More answers on the FAQ page.