In the early days of irrigation technology, “smart” meant a plastic box with a blinking light and an irrigation schedule programmed by hand. If you were lucky, the system stuck to it. If you were really lucky, the plants lived. But times have changed. Smart irrigation has shifted how we manage landscapes efficiently and sustainably. And for the past two decades, HydroPoint has led the evolution of smart irrigation controllers, driving innovation to meet the urgent need for water stewardship and sustainable resource management.
From Paging Controllers to Cloud-Connected Platforms
When we launched the first WeatherTRAK controller more than two decades ago, it looked nothing like the devices you see today. It was a big, bold purple box—and it communicated via paging technology.
Yet the intent behind it was bold and forward-looking: give water managers data-driven tools to reduce waste, increase efficiency, and take control of irrigation in ways that were not previously possible.
That first controller wasn’t just a hardware launch—it marked the beginning of HydroPoint’s commitment to smart water stewardship. It introduced a new standard of accountability and precision that’s guided every advancement since.
HydroPoint acquired Baseline technology in 2016, bringing all the technology under the HydroPoint umbrella.
Why This Innovation Mattered Then—and Still Does Now
When HydroPoint introduced its first controller, few were thinking about landscape irrigation as a serious water management challenge. But even then, the signs were there—growing urban sprawl, water restrictions, and an overreliance on wasteful timers. Our vision was to move irrigation from guesswork to data-driven precision. That goal has only grown more urgent as water scarcity becomes a defining challenge of our time.
What Makes Smart Irrigation “Smart”?
So what exactly makes a modern irrigation system “smart”? It’s not just about automation—it’s about adaptability. Smart systems integrate real-time weather data, flow sensors, soil moisture readings, cloud-based site maps with assets, and mobile app control. These features work together to dynamically optimize watering schedules and detect anomalies like leaks or pressure drops before they become costly problems, resulting in better system performance and peace of mind across every site.
Always Ahead of the Curve
We’ve spent the past two decades redefining what’s possible in irrigation—transforming ideas into tools that empower irrigation contractors, landscape designers and managers, and water efficiency experts to protect landscapes and safeguard our most precious resource.
- Achieve EPA WaterSense certification for our WeatherTRAK controllers—meaning they meet the highest standards for efficiency and performance, as validated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Be named EPA WaterSense Manufacturer Partner of the Year—recognizing our leadership in advancing water-saving innovation and helping set benchmarks for the entire industry.
- Introduce soil moisture sensor integration with Baseline—among the first systems validated under the EPA’s revised WaterSense specification, elevating irrigation efficiency through in-ground intelligence.
- Launch a mobile app that continues to evolve—bringing powerful irrigation management into the palm of the hand for thousands of field teams across the country.
As CTO and co-founder Peter Carlson puts it: “From the start, our goal has been to stay one step ahead of where the industry is going—not just react to the market, but shape the future of smart water management. That mindset drives us to develop technologies that not only solve today’s operational challenges, but also help future-proof our communities in the face of growing water scarcity.”
Powered by Research, Proven in the Field
HydroPoint’s technology isn’t just forward-thinking—it’s backed by decades of results. Early research studies from the 2000s showed smart irrigation controllers reduced water use by up to 59% and significantly cut landscape runoff—while improving plant health and helping sites reach up to 95% of their water conservation potential.
That performance is why our platforms continue to be trusted across school districts, cities, commercial real estate portfolios, and national retail brands. Our customers aren’t just installing devices—they’re building resilient, data-driven strategies for managing water across their landscapes.
What Smart Irrigation Means in Practice Today
Today’s smart irrigation systems are doing more than just automating water schedules. With features like cloud-based control, flow monitoring, predictive analytics, and leak detection, they help teams act faster and make better decisions. Landscapes stay healthier, water use drops, and teams can maintain more sites with fewer resources. It’s no longer just about saving water—it’s about running smarter, more resilient operations.
The Next Frontier: AI-Driven Water Management
We’re now firmly in the era of artificial intelligence—a new chapter in smart irrigation where automation, prediction, and responsiveness are setting a new standard for performance. While others are just beginning to experiment, HydroPoint is already applying AI to optimize water schedules, flag anomalies, and streamline troubleshooting. These capabilities give water managers more control with less manual effort, helping them scale sustainable practices across every site.
We’re not just adapting to the future of irrigation—we’re defining it.
Where Innovation Meets Impact
For water managers, contractors, and facility teams, innovation only matters if it delivers results on the ground. HydroPoint’s evolution—from paging tech to AI-enabled platforms—hasn’t just modernized irrigation; it’s helped organizations meet rising sustainability mandates, reduce liability risks, and do more with fewer resources. It’s this blend of technological advancement and real-world impact that makes HydroPoint’s smart irrigation tools essential for today’s most forward-thinking teams.
Celebrating 20+ Years of Innovation—With More to Come
As we celebrate 20+ years of innovation, we’re not just marking time—we’re making a statement. The irrigation industry has undergone a radical transformation, and HydroPoint has helped lead that shift every step of the way. From purple paging boxes to real-time mobile dashboards and AI-powered systems, the story of smart irrigation is one of reinvention—and we’re just getting started.
And through it all, one thing has remained constant: HydroPoint’s commitment to leading the evolution of smart irrigation, delivering solutions that make water management smarter, simpler, and more sustainable.
How to Get Started with Smart Irrigation
For organizations exploring smart irrigation for the first time, it’s helpful to start with a pilot site—often a location with known inefficiencies, high water bills, or heavy landscape demands. From there, smart controllers, flow sensors, and soil moisture systems can be implemented in phases, demonstrating value quickly and scaling across additional properties over time. With HydroPoint, implementation doesn’t require massive infrastructure changes—just the willingness to rethink how water is managed. The benefits begin almost immediately and only grow as the system expands.