Tallahassee, FL
United States
Site Profile
The sprawling Fallschase Village Center in Eastern Florida is home to the region’s only Costco, a hub of activity featuring well-maintained landscaping. Over time, the ground crew struggled with an aging commercial irrigation system that had become inefficient and unreliable — signaling the urgent need for a more effective, modern solution.
Over a span of 17 years, the original irrigation system’s hardware had become damaged due to normal wear and tear, traffic, and construction. Initial inspections revealed a vast maze of underground field wires that were either damaged or missing entirely.
The site itself added to the project’s complexity. Much of the 24-acre (9.7-hectare) property consisted of concrete, pavement, and asphalt, with the irrigation system confined to the perimeter. A traditional retrofit would require extensive and costly excavation to access these areas.
In addition, Tallahassee’s weather — long, hot summers and short, cold winters — demanded a resilient irrigation system that could adapt to the region’s variable climate conditions.
To repair the failing irrigation system, Costco’s property managers hired C&A Landscape Maintenance LLC. The contractor crew quickly determined that a traditional wired approach would be time-consuming, costly, and highly disruptive to the shopping center's busy parking lot. Instead, they opted for a wireless retrofit, a no-dig solution designed to speed installation, reduce costs, and minimize the inconvenience to shoppers.
The C&A team selected the award-winning Hunter Wireless Valve Link (WVL) for its ease of use and unmatched flexibility. Powered by advanced LoRa® Technology, the WVL enables wire-free valve control for Hunter ICC2 and HCC Controller systems, allowing up to 54 valves (+P/MV) at distances up to 2,000' (610 m) line-of-sight, or further with a solar-powered Hunter Repeater.
To streamline installation, the team predrilled and labeled each valve box with station numbers for easy field identification. They installed each WVL in a valve box near the corresponding valve, positioning each lid about 3" (7.6 cm) above grade to enhance wireless signal coverage. To maximize reception, the team used a Hunter Antenna Extension Kit to elevate the Hunter Wireless Valve Output Module antenna 5' (1.5 m) above ground level.
Due to the site’s expansive size, they also installed a Repeater atop a parking lot light pole at a height of 40' (12 m). This ensured strong, consistent signal coverage across the property, even over buildings and the property's maturing trees.
“Distant valves that had been reporting only a 20% signal jumped to 80–90% signal strength,” said Chris Risalvato, principal at C&A Landscape Maintenance LLC. "The Repeater added confidence to the long-term reliability of the system."
Installing the WVL System was a straightforward process, thanks to Hunter’s online videos and product expert training courses. The only unexpected hurdle was realizing that all valves required Hunter DC-Latching Solenoids. The crew quickly remedied this by adding the necessary components to all 26 valves.
In addition to the WVL System, the team integrated a Hunter ICC2 Cellular Connection Module and the Hunter Centralus™ Irrigation Management Platform. These advanced options provide precise control and convenient remote system access — crucial features for adapting to unpredictable weather conditions.
Shortly after project completion, meteorologists forecasted a hurricane. The new system sent an alert to Risalvato, who immediately used the Centralus Platform to activate the controllers’ “Days Off” function from his phone. This proactive measure prevented oversaturating the landscape and reduced the risk of creating a flood zone.
The site owners were thrilled to have a fully operational system delivered at a low cost and with minimal disruption to the parking areas. To maintain optimal performance, Costco’s maintenance contract with C&A includes seasonal replacement of the 9 V batteries in each WVL. This simple practice keeps the system both cost-efficient and environmentally friendly.
The advanced wireless technology built into each WVL provides several long-term benefits. Without wires to short circuit, break, or corrode, the system reduces the need for frequent repairs — saving time, labor, and money over its lifespan. It also ensures precise irrigation control to reduce water waste and support sustainability, while providing scalability for future updates.
Risalvato’s team has already proposed WVL Systems to other commercial property managers facing similar challenges, including a local bank branch and several apartment complexes. They also suggested installing WVLs for a shopping center currently relying on standalone Hunter NODE Battery-Operated Controllers to address damaged field wiring in hard-to-reach areas.
