Update March 2021 – Currently No Spruce Products are listed as EPA certified products
Why have we delisted?
- Spruce products are primarily used with our Spruce Sensors, and there is a new EPA certification for sensor systems that would be more appropriate for our system.
- The EPA certification is most useful for rebates, and we found our customers are not taking advantage of the rebates.
- The Spruce system has been tested to meet the SWAT standard as described in the EPA WaterSense directive, and is functionally compliant. The listing is simply paperwork and registration fees that we have cancelled.
Previously Certified Products
Spruce Wifi (Gen2) 16 zone Irrigation Controller is EPA WaterSense® was certified and listed for rebates in 2018, but is now de-listed.
Rebates
Spruce no longer qualifies for the EPA WaterSense® Rebate for weather-based irrigation controllers in many US regions. Some regions will recognize the Swat test and offer a rebate. Many also offer rebates for soil moisture sensors or flow meters.
Check with your local water district since not all rebates are listed on the EPA website. Our own local district is not listed on the EPA website, but offers rebates at the Santa Clara Water District Irrigation Equipment Rebate page.
What is the SWAT test and how is it different from EPA WaterSense® Certification?
Spruce is tested to the Weather-based irrigation controller SWAT test and must meet the performance and feature specifications outlined by the test. All irrigation controllers must meet the same standards to qualify for certification. The SWAT test is performed by a 3rd party to ensure water times are within scientific specifications.
An outline of the requirements:
- Independent 3rd party test over 30 consecutive days. Spruce was tested at Fresno State in California
- Controller must obtain or calculate Evapotranspiration, then using plant, nozzle and other settings, apply the proper amount of water over the course of the test
- Controller must take into account rain precipitation
- Currently there is NOT a specification for soil moisture sensors, Spruce is certified under the weather-based controller specification.
- The EPA WaterSense program includes some additional test parameters in order to be certified. Spruce met all these requirements and was previously listed.
The irrigation controller must not under water or over water over the 30 day test
See the EPA WaterSense® website for additional details and current specification.
And the SWAT website