Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding Water Window Alerts and the Problem OptiFlow Solves

One of the most frequent challenges WeatherTRAK users face is water window alerts or water window warnings. These alerts occur when you have scheduled more irrigation than there is time available to complete it. For example, if you have 14 hours of irrigation to perform but only 12 hours of available irrigation time, your WeatherTRAK controller will produce an alert notifying you that there isn't enough time in the night to complete all scheduled irrigation.

In a traditional setup, a controller schedule displays irrigation in five-minute intervals throughout the night. For instance, a 48-station controller at a homeowners association might require 16 and a half hours to deliver all necessary irrigation when running stations sequentially. With the onset of more efficient irrigation methods that take longer to deliver water, as well as large or complex systems, users often struggle to complete all irrigation within allowed timeframes—especially in areas with water restrictions that limit watering to certain times of day.

This is where OptiFlow provides a solution. Built on top of all the features you expect from WeatherTRAK—including weather-based irrigation and central control management—OptiFlow is available only on the top tier of the WeatherTRAK controller family. It delivers all the irrigation you need in the shortest amount of time possible by optimizing your irrigation system to use the full capacity of your system design.

How Flow Optimization Works

OptiFlow knows two critical pieces of information: how many gallons per minute your main line can provide, and how many gallons per minute every station in the field uses. Each station will have a different flow rate—some stations are large, some are small—and OptiFlow uses this information to optimize your irrigation program to keep your main line flowing at its capacity.

Here's an example of how OptiFlow sequences irrigation. Assume your main line can provide 100 gallons per minute:

First irrigation cycle: OptiFlow might select the two largest stations, each running at 50 gallons per minute, reaching the 100 gallon per minute total capacity. These stations run to completion.

Second irrigation cycle: OptiFlow might select two 40-gallon-per-minute stations for a total of 80 gallons per minute, with enough capacity remaining to add one of the smaller stations. This is where optimization begins—OptiFlow starts combining stations and running them simultaneously because the system can handle it, minimizing the total irrigation time.

Final irrigation cycle: Once those three stations are complete, OptiFlow knows it can run all five remaining stations—two 30-gallon-per-minute stations, one 20-gallon-per-minute station, and two 10-gallon-per-minute stations—reaching 100 gallons per minute capacity. In essentially the time it would take to run three stations on a normal controller, OptiFlow has delivered irrigation to all 10 stations.

By using the full capacity of the main line, OptiFlow reduces the amount of time required to deliver necessary irrigation.

Real-World Results: The Meadowview HOA Example

In a real-world application, a 48-station controller at Meadowview HOA originally required 16 and a half hours to complete all irrigation in an unoptimized format. When that same irrigation schedule was run through OptiFlow, the irrigation time was reduced to just six and a half hours—more than half the original time, representing a 250 percent increase in water window efficiency. Importantly, every blade of grass received exactly the same amount of water, so landscape health was maintained while dramatically reducing irrigation duration.

Traditional Solutions and Their Limitations

Before OptiFlow, contractors typically attempted to solve water window problems in two ways: pushing water window boundaries on either side to create more time for irrigation, or trying to run multiple stations simultaneously. However, running multiple stations manually is extremely difficult because it requires identifying which stations can run together, calculating the combined flow rates, and coordinating them on opposite programs so they can run at the same time.

The amount of math and coordination required makes it nearly impossible for a contractor to manage this on a daily basis. When contractors do attempt to run multiple stations, they often encounter insufficient pressure when larger stations turn on. Most contractors resort to trial and error, and problems often aren't discovered until the landscape begins to suffer.

Contractors who are skilled at this type of optimization spend considerable time creating spreadsheets and formulas to get as close as possible to an efficient schedule. One contractor described the manual process of figuring out a schedule on a complex system as his "Good Will Hunting chalkboard"—trying to use all the programs, start each program at exactly the right time, and juggle all the different irrigation to maximize main line use. OptiFlow automates this entire process, combining the power of a WeatherTRAK controller with cloud-based computing to turn guesswork into science.

Multi-Controller Optimization

OptiFlow is not limited to optimizing a single controller. The solution allows multiple controllers to work together, optimizing irrigation for an entire site rather than one controller at a time. If you have four controllers that share a point of connection, OptiFlow will coordinate the schedules on all four controllers to optimize the irrigation schedule for the night and keep the main line running at its capacity.

In practice, this means that in any given five-minute window, OptiFlow might select 12 stations from two different controllers across five different programs—all chosen to keep the main line running as much water through it as possible. The system will continue this optimization for as long as possible to consolidate irrigation.

In a traditional management scenario without multi-controller coordination, you might have to create two separate water windows—one for each controller fighting for resources on the same main line. With OptiFlow, this isn't necessary; all controllers can run together. The system evaluates the needs of all controllers and coordinates them with the available flow from your point of connection to be as efficient as possible.

Managing Flow Sensors Across Multiple Controllers

When you have a complex system with multiple controllers, you typically have one flow sensor wired to one controller. In traditional management, you would have to configure that controller to open the master valve and let all other controllers measure flow in an ad hoc manner. With OptiFlow managing the system, the back-end infrastructure knows to turn on the master valve and flow sensor on controller A while opening the station valve on controller B. All of this coordination happens seamlessly from the app—you would never know there's an entire infrastructure built to coordinate this effort behind the scenes.

System Capacity and Limitations

The current known limitation for OptiFlow is station-based and largely hypothetical. The system has been tested up to 1,000 stations. While there may not be a theoretical limit, testing has been conducted to ensure reliability at the 1,000-station level. This capacity easily accommodates 20 or more 48-station controllers working together. Beyond 1,000 stations, the system could very well be supported, but close coordination with engineering is recommended to ensure everything is properly configured.

Setup Considerations: Understanding Your Hydraulic Infrastructure

One of the biggest challenges in setting up OptiFlow is understanding your site's infrastructure. Very rarely is the person who installed the system still on site managing it. The most time-consuming aspect of setup involves determining two things: what your water supply can truly deliver (how much capacity it has), and what your piping network looks like—both the lines delivering water to your valves and the lines from your valves out to the heads.

This hydraulic information is crucial because you need to ensure you have the capacity to provide for the need at the station level. When you compound this by running multiple stations on multiple controllers simultaneously, having correct information in OptiFlow allows you to maximize your supply and your mainline and sub-mains to deliver the right amount of water and run the maximum number of stations at the same time.

Addressing Pressure vs. Flow Issues

If your hydraulic capacity doesn't push enough water based on available pressure, a pump can sometimes help improve efficiency. However, it's important to understand that a pump does not generate flow—it only boosts pressure. If you have a pressure issue, a pump can help solve that problem. If you have a supply issue with insufficient gallons per minute available at your supply source, a pump will not resolve that. OptiFlow can help ensure you manage available flow efficiently, but if you have fundamental flow limitations at the source, that becomes a more challenging issue. For pressure-related constraints, a pump is definitely worth considering.

Viewing Your Optimized Schedule

Once you log into weathertrack.net, you'll land on the homepage. If you have OptiFlow privileges assigned to your account or an OptiFlow site, you'll see an OptiFlow tab on your WeatherTRAK.net account.

Before viewing the optimized schedule, you need to understand that OptiFlow balances the gallons per minute of every station against what your main line can supply. A critical part of the setup is determining how many gallons per minute every station uses. You can manually enter flow values for each station, or use other methods to determine these values. Stations might range from 10 gallons per minute to 50 gallons per minute, depending on their size. You'll also need to assign run times to every station.

To view your optimized schedule, navigate to the OptiFlow tab and select the Optimize page. Choose your controller or site, and you'll see how OptiFlow has decided to run the programs to optimize flow, keep stations running, and use the full capacity of the main line. You can see examples of 30 or more stations across multiple controllers working together to bring the system up to its capacity.

Understanding the Optimize Display

The optimize screen provides a visual representation of your irrigation schedule. Each bar in the display represents an irrigation program. For example, Program A might be set to run between 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM. If a program is highlighted in yellow, it indicates there isn't enough time to deliver all the irrigation—a water window alert.

You can view the schedule in five-minute intervals, with each interval showing exactly which stations OptiFlow has selected to keep the system at capacity. The display shows stations from different controllers and different programs all coordinated to maximize water delivery.

Dynamic Programming: Adjusting Water Windows

One of the most powerful features of OptiFlow is the dynamic programming environment, which allows you to make changes and immediately see the results.

Extending water windows: If a program doesn't have enough time, you can grab the end of the water window and extend it, opening up more time on the controller for programs to run. After making the change, re-optimize the program to see the new results.

Changing start times: You can also change when programs start. If you want a program to run earlier in the night, grab the program in the interface and move it to the desired start time, then re-optimize to see how that affects the overall schedule.

Testing different capacities: You can experiment with the main line capacity settings. If your main line is set to 82 gallons per minute but you want to see what happens at 90 gallons per minute, change the value and re-optimize. This allows you to understand whether increasing capacity would reduce the total irrigation time for your site.

You can navigate through the schedule program by program to see exactly which stations will water and when, giving you complete visibility into how everything will coordinate and how the system will use available water.

Setting Up Dependencies Between Programs

OptiFlow includes a feature called "dependencies" that allows one program to follow another in a specific way. In traditional programming, if you wanted Program D to follow Program B, you would have to wait until the water window for Program B ended before starting irrigation for Program D. This creates a problem when running a pump, because the pump has to drop down, wait, and then build back up again.

With OptiFlow dependencies, you can program one program to follow another without this gap, maintaining continuous flow and keeping pumps running efficiently. This feature is sometimes referred to as a "woopty woo" and helps maintain system efficiency when sequencing programs.

Determining Maximum GPM for Your Point of Connection

Determining the maximum gallons per minute for your point of connection involves both calculation and real-world testing. Start with "the book"—use design specifications or manufacturer recommendations for what the capacity of the system should be based on water meter size and pipe dimensions. You can determine maximum flow through a water meter based on its size, but you also need to consider what happens after the water meter: the size of your main line and how much pressure is available behind that flow.

OptiFlow includes built-in calculators in the setup features that help you determine a great starting point based on these specifications. However, some trial and error is typically involved to find the actual real-world capacity, which may differ from the theoretical book answer. The calculators provide a solid foundation, and then you can adjust based on system performance.

OptiFlow Compatibility with Auto Mode and User Mode

OptiFlow does not compromise any of the features you expect from WeatherTRAK. All weather-based irrigation functionality remains in place, and station-based flow monitoring is fully incorporated into OptiFlow. All your protections and schedules continue to work as expected—OptiFlow simply builds optimization on top of your existing setup.

You can use OptiFlow with either user-defined schedules or auto mode. If you're using user-defined schedules, you can use the optimization tool to help determine if you've picked the right start and stop times. If you prefer to let auto mode take over and manage scheduling automatically, OptiFlow works seamlessly with that approach as well. The choice between modes doesn't limit OptiFlow functionality.

OptiFlow can even help with extreme irrigation needs. For example, a cemetery establishing 72 stations of new sod might still need to run 18 hours a day during establishment, but with OptiFlow, they can actually accomplish all that irrigation within the available time by running multiple stations simultaneously.

Real-World Benefits: Visibility and Problem Solving

Users who implement OptiFlow experience what's often described as a "light bulb moment." After completing the learn flow process and setting up the main line to understand how much water is going to each area, users can view the optimize screen and see their schedule in a way they've never had visibility into before.

The dynamic programming capability—being able to move things around as necessary—is a tool that users have never had in their toolbox before. OptiFlow helps resolve issues of insufficient water windows and eliminates the guesswork that previously characterized irrigation scheduling. It provides solutions that work, helps customers sleep at night knowing their irrigation is handled, and delivers actionable information.

With limited time in each day to accomplish all tasks, knowing that tools like OptiFlow will maximize main line usage automatically, that auto mode will deliver the right amount of water at the right time, and that you'll be notified if problems occur—and be able to do something about them—provides tremendous value. OptiFlow delivers solutions that save time and improve irrigation management.

Video Walkthrough

Video originally published April 2021.

If you have questions, here are 3 ways to get answers:

1. Search within this WeatherTRAK knowledgebase

2. Visit the WeatherTRAK support page

3. Call 800-362-8774 or email support@hydropoint.com, hours are Mon-Fri 3:00 AM – 6:00 PM PT and Sat 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT.