Irrigation technician

Irrigation technicians specialise in the installation, maintenance and repair of sprinklers, pipes and other irrigation systems. They operate machinery used for irrigation systems handling, and ensure compliance with environmental standards.

Duties

The duties of an irrigation technician include, but are not limited to:

• Inspecting and loading equipment for the day’s work.
• Driving to the client’s location.
• Testing the soil and vegetation to determine irrigation needs.
• Mapping out areas for irrigation installation.
• Digging trenches and installing pipes and lines.
• Installing pumps and electrical timers.
• Testing the irrigation system with the aid of computer software.
• Conducting routine maintenance checks.
• Troubleshooting and replacing faulty parts.
• Completing progress reports and associated paperwork.

Work is performed primarily outdoors in all types of extreme weather conditions and involves use of chemicals, pesticides, and other substances. Position involves exposure to ventilation problems, noise extremes and inclement weather. Work pressures and disturbances of workflow and irregularities in work schedule are expected.

The following job titles also refer to irrigation technician:

irrigation worker
irrigation machinery operative
sprinkler system maintenance technician
irrigation operative
irrigation system technician
irrigation pipework technician
irrigation machinery technician
sprinkler system operator
irrigation system maintenance technician
sprinkler system technician
irrigation machinery worker
irrigation maintenance technician
irrigation machinery operator

A high school diploma is generally required to work as an irrigation technician.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Irrigation technician is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to irrigation technician.

chimney sweep supervisor
dry house attendant
pump operator
fire service vehicle operator
sprinkler fitter

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of irrigation technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of irrigation technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

water plant technician
water engineering technician
water treatment systems operator
wastewater treatment operator
fire protection technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of irrigation technician.

• Water pressure: Physical laws, qualities and applications of liquid or water pressure.
• Irrigation systems: The methods and systems management in irrigation.
• Types of sprinklers: The different types of installations using water supply for the control and extinguishing of fires. These systems include fast- and standard response sprinklers wet and dry pipe systems, deluge systems, pre-action systems, foam water sprinkler systems, water spray systems, and water mist systems. Their preferred usage cases, advantages and disadvantages.

These skills are necessary for the role of irrigation technician.

• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation: Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are compliant with environment regulations and best practices.
• Maintain irrigation controllers: Maintain and program different types of irrigation controllers including mechanical, solar battery, digital and computer controlled systems.
• Maintain sprinkler systems: Repair and replace sprinkler system components: pumps, main feeder and lateral lines, sprinkler heads, valves, PVC pipes, controls, and electronically controlled water sensors. Replace low voltage wiring. Oversee sprinkler system maintenance.
• Lay pipe installation: Install the system of pipes used to transport a fluid, be it a liquid or a gas, from one point to another and connect it to the fuel and water supply lines, air ducts, and other components.
• Install sprinkler systems: Install sprinkler systems and adjust the pumps, main feeder and lateral lines, sprinkler heads, valves, PVC pipes, controls, and electronically controlled water sensors.
• Keep competences about irrigation systems up-to-date: Keep up to date with trends in irrigation systems. Review publications, and attending lectures and conferences. Cooperate with others in developing and revising overall grounds planning and the grounds handbook.
• Install irrigation systems: Install and shift irrigation systems to distribute water according to needs.
• Maintain irrigation systems: Install irrigation, plumbing and sprinkler systems. Inspect and assess these systems according to agreed time schedules. Identify defects and wear in irrigation systems and arrange repairs.
• Compute irrigation pressure: Calculate how much pressure is needed for existing and planned irrigation systems. Include discharge and spray radius specification.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of irrigation technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Water policies: Have a solid understanding of policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations concerning water.
• Fire safety regulations: The legal rules to be applied for fire safety and fire prevention in a facility.
• Fire prevention procedures: The regulations concerning fire and explosion prevention, and the equipment, systems and methods used in it.
• Water reuse: Principles of water re-use processes in complex circulation systems.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of irrigation technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Follow water supply schedule: Adapt operations in the distribution and supply of water for irrigation purposes, residential or facility use, to ensure that the timing is correct and the schedule is followed.
• Develop irrigation strategies: Plan the deployment of methods and procedures for watering the land by artificial means, taking into account strategies for water use sustainability.
• Organise irrigation: Plan and assist with irrigation scheduling and operation.
• Inspect fire equipment: Inspect fire equipment, such as fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and fire vehicle systems, to ensure the equipment is functional and to assess its faults.
• Monitor water quality: Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.
• Perform water testing procedures: Conduct testing procedures on water quality, such as pH tests and dissolved solids. Understand instrumentation drawings.
• Measure water flow: Measure water flow, water intakes and catchments.

7126 – Plumbers and pipe fitters

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References

1. Irrigation technician – ESCO
2. Irrigation Technician Job Description – Betterteam
3. Irrigation Technician/Grounds | Human Resources at PCC
4. Featured image: By Abhay iari – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0