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Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Describe regional and local water storage and delivery systems
2. Identify the percent of the state's developed water supply used for landscape irrigation
3. Describe how water moves through the soil.
4. Identify irrigation system components on an irrigation plan.
5. Define the basic concepts of water pressure, flow, velocity and friction loss
6. Calculate water pressure and flow at key points (meter, valves, worst head) in a landscape
irrigation system
7. Identify and describe the primary irrigation system components used in a typical landscape
irrigation system
8. Space sprinkler heads and drip emitters for uniform application and specified precipitation
rate.
9. Select and size pipe material based on use, water pressure, and flow for an irrigation plan.
10. Identify and select pipe fittings for the correct use in an irrigation plan
11. Specify heads, emitters, valves, backflow prevention and controller for a residential
landscape plan.
12. Install PVC pipe, polyethylene tube, drip emitters, sprinkler heads, remote control valves,
pressure reducers, filters, backflow prevention devices and/or controllers for a
landscape irrigation system.
13. Program a controller for water-efficient system operation for a given site.
14. Describe the need for pumping/filtering irrigation water from city mains and private wells
15. Perform a water audit on a spray or rotor system to determine efficiency of the system
16. Apply the troubleshooting process to solve irrigation system problems of a given irrigation
system
17. Prepare and present a cost estimate for an irrigation system from a given irrigation plan
18. Demonstrate professional work ethics and safety practices on the job site
19. Develop an efficient irrigation schedule for a given climate, landscape and irrigation system
20. Design a landscape irrigation system from a given landscape or plot plan
21. Explain the steps to installing a drip or micro spray system
22. Describe common techniques utilized to retrofit a conventional system to low volume
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I. California's Climate and Water Resources
A. California's Mediterranean climate pattern
B. Importance of winter rainfall and storage facilities
C. Regional and local water distribution systems
D. Statistics on landscape water use
II. Basic Hydraulics and Water Movement through Pipe
A. Static pressure
B. Dynamic (operating) pressure
C. Flow gallons per minute (GPM)
D. Velocity
E. Friction loss
F. Calculation of water forces at key system points.
III. Soil and Plant Water Relations
A. Soil types and drainage/aeration characteristics
B. Soil water holding capacity and rooting depth
C. Water use of plant types
D. Evapotranspiration (ET) concept and reference ET
E. Infiltration rates of soils
IV. Water Supply
A. City mains and service lines
B. Soil water holding capacity and rooting depth
C. Water quality
D. Alternative water sources
E. Sprinkler irrigation sources
F. Drip or micro-spray irrigation systems
1. Surface
2. Subsurface
V. Assembly Methods and Installation of System Components
A. Sprinkler heads, nozzles, and drip emitters
B. Manual and remote control valves
C. Backflow prevention devices
D. Pressure regulators and filters
E. Controllers and wiring
F. Moisture-sensing devices
VI. Pipe, Hose / Tubing, and Fittings
A. PVC pipe
B. Polyethylene pipe
C. Galvanized steel pipe
D. Copper pipe
E. Polyethylene hoses / tubing
VII. System Planning/Layout, Design, and Installation
A. Available water pressure and flow at point of connection
B. Watering zones (hydrozones)
C. Head selection and placement
D. Precipitation rates and head spacing
E. Circuiting heads into valve groups
F. Location of valves, main lines, and lateral lines
G. Sizing valves and pipe
H. Location of controller and sizing power and valve wires
I. Controller programming and system operation check
J. Design of landscape irrigation systems
K. Installation of landscape and drip irrigation systems - layout, trenching, component
assembly, system check, adjustment, backfill
VIII. Estimating Costs
A. Irrigation plan reading and standard symbols
B. Material take-off
C. Supplier catalogs and price lists
IX. Water-Efficient System Operation
A. Water audit method of determining system efficiency
B. Use of California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) and other ET data resources
C. Implementation of ET data in controller programming
D. Troubleshooting problems
E. Adjustments and repairs
F. Local water agency assistance and resources
G. Irrigation scheduling based on climate and type of system
H. Model water efficient landscape ordinance
X. Professional Groups and Activities
A. California Landscape Contractor's Association
B. Irrigation Association Certification
C. Landscape Industry Certified Technician
D. National Association of Landscape Professionals (formerly PLANET)
E. QWEL (Qualified Water Effiecient Landscaper)
All topics covered in lecture will also be covered in lab.