Upper Trinity Regional Water District receives the Irrigation Association SWAT Outstanding Public Engagement Award

The Irrigation Association has named Upper Trinity Regional Water District, Texas, as the Smart Water Application Technologies 2026 Outstanding Public Engagement Award recipient.

This award recognizes a water provider with a successful program focused on engaging and educating the public on smart, efficient irrigation technologies and practices. By shining the spotlight on outstanding water providers and their innovative projects, the IA is working to raise awareness among water customers of the critical importance and impact the irrigation industry has on communities across the United States.

Upper Trinity Regional Water District is being recognized for its Residential Irrigation System Check-Up Program and its enhanced approach to customer engagement following the addition of a full-time, licensed irrigation specialist in 2025. Serving approximately 490,000 residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the program provides free on-site irrigation system evaluations that help residents identify inefficiencies, improve irrigation scheduling and adopt water-saving technologies and practices. Through personalized, one-on-one consultations, residents learn how to operate their irrigation controllers, identify common system problems and implement water-efficient strategies, while also exploring technologies including smart controllers, rain and freeze sensors and multi-stream nozzles.

“The Irrigation Association is proud to honor Upper Trinity Regional Water District with the 2026 Outstanding Public Engagement Award,” said IA CEO Natasha Rankin. “The addition of a dedicated irrigation specialist has elevated an already successful conservation program by creating meaningful, face-to-face interactions that empower residents to become better stewards of water. By combining professional expertise, practical education and smart irrigation technologies, Upper Trinity is helping customers make informed decisions that reduce water waste and generate lasting conservation benefits throughout the communities it serves.”

In 2025, Upper Trinity completed 440 irrigation check-ups across 15 communities. Evaluations found that 71% of participating properties were overwatering, with recommended controller adjustments capable of saving a combined 625,539 gallons of water each week or nearly 2,000 gallons per home. Program assessments also identified 1,388 recommended repairs or adjustments to improve irrigation efficiency.

The 2026 SWAT Outstanding Public Engagement Award was announced on Oct. 22 during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference. Applications for the 2027 IA SWAT awards will open in early 2027. For more information about the Irrigation Association, visit irrigation.org. For more about the Smart Water Application Technologies coalition led by the Irrigation Association, visit swatirrigation.org.

About the Irrigation Association

The Irrigation Association is the leading organization of irrigation professionals, serving as the recognized authority in efficient irrigation: promoting innovation, supporting industry growth and sustainability, engaging decision-makers and serving as the leading, credible and unifying voice and advocate for the industry. We seek to transform humanity’s stewardship and use of water, enabling the long-term sustainability of the planet’s water and natural resources and improving the quality of life through a reliable global food supply and vital green spaces. For more information, visit irrigation.org.

About SWAT

Smart Water Application Technologies is a partnership between water purveyors, equipment manufacturers and irrigation practitioners. Founded in 2002, SWAT is committed to identifying, testing and promoting innovative irrigation technologies and related best practices that improve water-use efficiency. For more information, visit swatirrigation.org.