Nassau sets aside $100,000 for "smart sprinklers"
Nassau County will reimburse large residential water users who purchase "smart sprinker" systems to reduce their summer lawn watering.
The county legislature voted unanimously last week to establish a reimbursement program for homeowners who use 15,000 gallons of water or more during peak sprinkling season if they purchase the weather-based systems.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran set aside $100,000 in her 2020 budget to pay for the program, sponsored by Legis. Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury).
Newsday has reported that Curran's $3.11 billion budget is projected to have a $47.8 million deficit, which does not include the cost of future labor agreements. All five major county unions have been working without contracts since the end of 2017.
The new legislation does not say how much these smart spinkler systems cost and how many homeowners are expected to participate in the program. A spokesman for Nassau Democratic lawmakers did not return requests for comment.
However, New York American Water this spring offered its customers a discounted price of $99 to purchase a Smart System Controller, which the water company said normally costs up to $239.
Nassau's program will be available only to homeowners whose water districts do not offer similar discounts or benefits for installing smart systems, Bynoe said.
The county resolution says such systems typically reduce an average home's irrigation water use by at least 15 percent. The smart sprinker system monitors local weather data to automatically alter irrigation schedules.
"This would not only help us conserve water but also go a long way in making sure we are protecting the quality of water," Bynoe said.
The county legislature voted unanimously last week to establish a reimbursement program for homeowners who use 15,000 gallons of water or more during peak sprinkling season if they purchase the weather-based systems.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran set aside $100,000 in her 2020 budget to pay for the program, sponsored by Legis. Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury).
Newsday has reported that Curran's $3.11 billion budget is projected to have a $47.8 million deficit, which does not include the cost of future labor agreements. All five major county unions have been working without contracts since the end of 2017.
The new legislation does not say how much these smart spinkler systems cost and how many homeowners are expected to participate in the program. A spokesman for Nassau Democratic lawmakers did not return requests for comment.
However, New York American Water this spring offered its customers a discounted price of $99 to purchase a Smart System Controller, which the water company said normally costs up to $239.
Nassau's program will be available only to homeowners whose water districts do not offer similar discounts or benefits for installing smart systems, Bynoe said.
The county resolution says such systems typically reduce an average home's irrigation water use by at least 15 percent. The smart sprinker system monitors local weather data to automatically alter irrigation schedules.
"This would not only help us conserve water but also go a long way in making sure we are protecting the quality of water," Bynoe said.
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