The Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix, AZ
United States
Site Profile
Opened in 1962, the Phoenix Zoo is a world-class institution dedicated to conservation and education. Housed within Phoenix’s scenic Papago Park, the zoo welcomes 1.4 million guests each year. Visitors are invited to explore a variety of themed trails and carefully crafted habitats that showcase a wide range of plants and animals, including threatened and endangered species from around the globe.
Located in an arid desert climate where water conservation is a top priority, the zoo faced a significant irrigation challenge during a large property upgrade: how to maximize water savings while maintaining a diverse landscape with numerous habitat types. The site’s legacy system lacked smart control and flow-monitoring capabilities, which made it difficult for facility managers to detect inefficiencies and leaks, leading to excessive water consumption.
To improve irrigation across the 125-acre (51-hectare) site, the staff decided to upgrade its outdated system with smart control, comprehensive system monitoring, and flow sensors. The project aimed to identify leaks and reduce water waste by improving overall irrigation efficiency. To support more informed decision-making, landscape managers also needed a new approach to site management that provided clearer insights into where and how water was being used. Although the zoo wasn’t expanding during the renovation, the scale of the property added additional complexity to the project.
To solve the zoo’s water-use challenges, landscape managers selected the Hydrawise® Irrigation Management Platform for its advanced smart irrigation control features and remote monitoring capabilities. In total, 82 Hydrawise-enabled controllers — including the flexible HPC Controller and powerhouse HCC Controller — and 25 HC Flow Meters were installed throughout the property. This setup forms a connected, site-wide solution that allows the team to collaborate easily through the Hydrawise App. This solution was made possible thanks to a generous donation by the Salt River Project (SRP), a community-based, not-for-profit public utility in Arizona.
The transition to Hunter products has led to major improvements for water efficiency, system visibility, and proactive site management. The new system provides total remote oversight of irrigation operations and real-time data on flow rates, run times, electrical monitoring, and more. Site managers can now see each controller’s status from anywhere and receive instant alerts when issues occur, which was impossible with their previous setup.
According to irrigation technicians Andrew Fontaine and Gilbert Martinez, the easy-to-use Hydrawise App has transformed daily operations. Using the app, the landscape crew can monitor controller connectivity, review flow data, and respond quickly to alerts, highlighting the improved oversight and water management achieved through the new system.
Since implementing the Hydrawise Platform, the zoo has seen remarkable improvements in both water efficiency and site management. So far, the zoo has saved an estimated 24 million gallons (90.72 million liters), which equates to approximately $160,000 in savings.
Beyond financial benefits, Hydrawise has made site management easier and more efficient. Teams can remotely monitor flow, track performance, and generate detailed reports from one app to ensure healthy landscapes for zoo animals and visitors alike. The irrigation crew especially values the ability to monitor every controller and water zone across the property in real time. With comprehensive visibility and smart control, Hydrawise has become an indispensable tool to help the zoo achieve its water conservation goals.
