CLA Irrigation & Water Management Flashcards

What is 'greywater' and which landscape irrigation use is generally permitted under US state regulations?

Answer: Wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry used for subsurface landscape irrigation

Greywater is lightly used household wastewater (not toilet waste) that many states allow for subsurface drip irrigation of non-edible plants.

What does 'MAWA' stand for in California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO)?

Answer: Maximum Annual Water Allowance

MAWA (Maximum Annual Water Allowance) is the water budget ceiling a landscape design must not exceed under California's MWELO.

Which drip irrigation component prevents emitters from draining between cycles on sloped installations?

Answer: Check valve or anti-drain emitter

Anti-drain emitters or check valves hold water in the line between cycles, preventing low-head drainage that puddles at the bottom of slopes and dries out upslope emitters.

What is the primary advantage of using reclaimed (recycled) water for landscape irrigation?

Answer: It reduces demand on potable water supplies and can provide nutrients to plants

Reclaimed water conserves drinking water resources and often contains nutrients like nitrogen that can reduce fertilizer needs.

A flow sensor in an irrigation system is primarily used to:

Answer: Detect abnormal flow rates indicating a broken pipe or stuck valve

A flow sensor monitors water volume passing through the main line; significant deviations alert the controller to a potential leak or break, which can automatically shut the system down.

What is the recommended maximum run time for fixed spray heads on a clay soil before runoff typically begins?

Answer: 5–10 minutes

Clay soil has a low infiltration rate (often under 0.2 in/hr), so fixed spray heads applying water at 1–2 in/hr cause runoff after just a few minutes.