The Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller Lets You Water Your Garden From Your Phone

Placing the Aqua between my spigot and the hose, I connected the device to each. If you are using drip chubbing instead of a hose, you will use the included adapter to connect the irrigation line to the Aqua. Although the movements are easy, I had trouble getting a good seal on the side of the Aqua, even with the plaster. The position of the handle made it impossible to squeeze the tool to dry the connection, which means that, in the end, I could not avoid water leakage from this area. (Representative Eva suggested using plumber’s tape to increase the seal or adding an angled adapter or hose extension in preparation for the corner being difficult, but I didn’t try either method.) However, it’s easy to get a good seal on the bottom connections attached to the hose, because there isn’t much hardware to go under the Aqua.

Hardware and Software Testing

A snapshotEve app via Chris Null

Once the batteries are installed, you can tune the Aqua to your 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi network within the Eve app, or you can use HomeKit to connect directly to Apple’s Home app. You’ll need the Eve app to use the unit’s more advanced features (like child locks and water features), but for simple manual controls and timers, iOS Home works well.

That’s a good thing, because Eve’s iOS app is an incredibly connected app that will frustrate even the smartest home enthusiast — that’s how I felt when I tried using the app. An intricate collection of displays, timers, and commands determine how well your irrigation system works. While the goal here is to appeal to the flexibility and power in how you manage your irrigation schedule, the whole thing is more complicated than necessary. The interface is very busy, with unnecessary information filling every screen. Setting up a simple on/off timer feels like a snap on the app. To be honest, a revamp of the Eva program is probably in order.

A snapshotEve app via Chris Null

Maybe if Aqua shipped with better instructions, the mess of the app would be for nothing. But I was surprised to find that the section contained nothing but a basic and brief guide. These tools are easy to handle, but I expect that most users will need a little more hand holding than Eva provides (or a lot of patience) to get to know the program well.

Fortunately, after setting up my schedule and no longer needing to add them, I found the device and found it to be working fine. The unit responded quickly to the required orders, and orders went like clockwork. In several days of testing, the Aqua never once failed me.

A Pricey Proposition

Here’s the bad news: The Eve Aqua is one of the most expensive hose controllers, much more expensive than Rachio Smart Hose Timer (which I found simple but effective when I tried) and The price of 90204Z (a model I haven’t tried but similar to other Orbit kits I’ve tried and liked). Like the Aqua, all of its competitors offer an app-based smart display—but for about $100 or less. That said, the Aqua is much cheaper than that IrriSense 2 smart irrigation systemand all these options are much more expensive than digging a sprinkler.

Unlike other smart water controllers, the Aqua does not require a separate Wi-Fi bridge to operate, making it easy to use. But that opportunity loses its luster when it comes time to deal with the complexities of installation and the one-off exhaust system.