IA Water Auditing & Irrigation Efficiency 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'smart controller' mean in the context of WaterSense labeled controllers?
- A controller with Bluetooth connectivity
- A controller that automatically adjusts schedules based on weather and/or soil moisture data (Correct answer)
- A controller that tracks water billing
- A controller with a color touchscreen
Correct answer: A controller that automatically adjusts schedules based on weather and/or soil moisture data
EPA WaterSense labeled weather-based controllers adjust irrigation schedules using real-time or historical ET data to avoid over-watering.
Question 2: Which WaterSense program label applies specifically to irrigation professionals who demonstrate water-efficient design and management knowledge?
- WaterSense at Work
- WaterSense Labeled Partner
- WaterSense Irrigation Partner (IrrigationPro) (Correct answer)
- WaterSense Gold Contractor
Correct answer: WaterSense Irrigation Partner (IrrigationPro)
The EPA WaterSense Irrigation Partner program (formerly IrrigationPro) recognizes irrigation professionals who have passed a qualifying third-party exam, such as the IA Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) exam.
Question 3: Landscape water use efficiency (WUE) is expressed as the ratio of:
- Plant biomass to water applied
- Water beneficially used to total water applied (Correct answer)
- Evapotranspiration to precipitation
- Drip zones to spray zones
Correct answer: Water beneficially used to total water applied
WUE = beneficial water use / total water applied × 100%; the goal is to maximize plant water use and minimize waste from runoff, deep percolation, and evaporation.
Question 4: In a water budget approach to irrigation management, the maximum allowed water use (MAW) is based on:
- Flat rate per zone
- A calculated ET-based water allowance for the landscape area (Correct answer)
- The previous year's water bill
- The number of irrigation heads installed
Correct answer: A calculated ET-based water allowance for the landscape area
A water budget sets a maximum allowable water use tied to the landscape's ET requirement, incentivizing efficient scheduling to stay within the budget.
Question 5: Which certification exam does the Irrigation Association offer that is most focused on landscape irrigation system installation and maintenance?
- Certified Irrigation Designer (CID)
- Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) (Correct answer)
- Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA)
- Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist (CAIS)
Correct answer: Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
The CIT exam covers installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and basic design of residential and commercial landscape irrigation systems.
Question 6: After completing an irrigation audit, the primary deliverable to the client is typically:
- A new irrigation system installation quote
- A written report with DU results, water use data, schedule recommendations, and repair priorities (Correct answer)
- A soil test analysis
- A pump curve for the existing system
Correct answer: A written report with DU results, water use data, schedule recommendations, and repair priorities
An audit report documents findings (DU, flow rates, pressure, scheduling), identifies inefficiencies, and provides prioritized recommendations to improve efficiency.
IA Water Auditing & Irrigation Efficiency 2
What does 'smart controller' mean in the context of WaterSense labeled controllers?