Irrigation System Installation & Maintenance Flashcards

When scheduling irrigation for a newly installed turf lawn (sod or seed), the watering frequency should initially be:

Answer: Multiple times per day with short run times to keep the surface consistently moist until roots establish

New turf — whether sod or seed — requires frequent, light watering (2-4 times daily for seed, 1-2 times daily for sod) to keep the surface and root zone consistently moist. Deep, infrequent watering is appropriate only after roots have established (typically 3-6 weeks).

During a routine maintenance visit, a technician notices that several spray heads on a zone are producing a fine mist rather than a defined spray pattern. This indicates:

Answer: Operating pressure at the heads is too high, causing misting that wastes water through wind drift and evaporation

Misting from spray heads indicates excessive pressure, which breaks the water stream into tiny droplets susceptible to wind drift and evaporation. Spray heads typically need 30 PSI — pressures above 40 PSI cause significant misting. Pressure regulation is the solution.

A proper irrigation system maintenance checklist should include all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer: Adding chlorine to the mainline to improve water quality

While sprinkler inspection, leak repair, and controller/sensor testing are standard maintenance items, adding chlorine to the mainline is not a routine maintenance procedure. Chlorine treatment is only used in specific situations like treating drip system biological clogging under professional supervision.

After completing an irrigation repair, the technician should always:

Answer: Test the repaired zone, verify proper operation, document the work performed, and inform the property owner of any remaining issues

Professional service requires testing all repairs before leaving the site, documenting the work performed (including parts used and any warranty information), and communicating any additional issues discovered during the repair to the property owner.

An irrigation system installed with reclaimed (recycled) water must have what distinguishing feature on all above-ground components?

Answer: Purple identification — purple pipe, purple valve box lids, purple tags on heads, and warning signs stating 'RECLAIMED WATER - DO NOT DRINK'

All reclaimed water irrigation components must be clearly identified with purple coloring (Pantone 522C) and warning signage. This includes purple pipe, purple valve box lids, purple caps on heads, and signs at the controller, meter, and visible valve boxes.

What is the purpose of a flushing valve or end cap on a drip irrigation lateral line?

Answer: To allow periodic flushing of accumulated sediment and debris from the lateral to prevent emitter clogging

Flushing valves or removable end caps at the end of drip laterals allow periodic flushing to remove sediment, algae, and debris that accumulate in the tubing. Opening the end allows high-velocity water to carry out accumulated material that would otherwise clog emitters.