CIT - Certified Irrigation Technician Certified Irrigation Technician System Maintenance and Repair 1

Question 1

A technician notices that one zone has significantly reduced flow and some heads are not fully popping up. After ruling out a broken lateral line, what is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

A partially closed or malfunctioning zone valve is restricting flow

Answer

A partially closed or clogged zone valve reduces water pressure and flow to all heads on that zone simultaneously, causing weak pop-up performance across the board — a telltale sign that distinguishes valve problems from individual head issues.

Question 2

When inspecting a drip irrigation system, a technician finds emitters that are discharging inconsistently — some clogged, others weeping at the base. The first corrective action should be:

Accepted Answer

Flush the mainline and clean or replace clogged emitters

Answer

Flushing the mainline removes accumulated sediment and debris. Clogged emitters should then be cleaned with diluted vinegar or replaced — increasing pressure can worsen leaks and damage low-pressure drip components.

Question 3

A backflow preventer on an irrigation system is dripping from the relief valve port during normal operation. This most commonly indicates:

Accepted Answer

A worn or fouled check valve seat inside the backflow preventer

Answer

Continuous dripping from the relief port of an RPZ or PVB backflow preventer typically signals a fouled or damaged check valve seat that cannot hold a proper seal, allowing water to bypass and vent.

Question 4

After repairing a broken mainline pipe, the technician should perform which of the following before returning the system to automatic operation?

Accepted Answer

Manually activate each zone at full pressure to check for leaks at the repair site and downstream fittings

Answer

Manually cycling each zone at operating pressure while visually inspecting the repair and adjacent fittings confirms the repair is watertight and that no additional damage occurred during excavation or re-pressurization.

Question 5

A rotor head is rotating in only one direction instead of oscillating back and forth across its arc. The technician should first:

Accepted Answer

Check and clean the internal reversing mechanism and ensure the arc adjustment collar is not stuck

Answer

Rotors use a reversing gear mechanism and an adjustable arc collar. Debris or a stuck collar prevents the reversal. Cleaning the mechanism and re-seating the collar corrects rotation before any parts replacement is considered.

CIT - Certified Irrigation Technician Practice Test

CIT - Certified Irrigation Technician Practice Test

CIT - Certified Irrigation Technician Certified Irrigation Technician System Maintenance and Repair 1