Irrigation Association
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The Irrigation Association (IA) is a membership organization, founded in 1949, that includes over 2,000 American irrigation companies and professionals in agriculture, landscape and golf.
Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, IA promotes efficient irrigation technologies, products and services in an effort to ensure water is available for irrigation for future generations. Members can include irrigation equipment and system manufacturers, dealers, distributors, designers, consultants, contractors, educators, government entities, technical members, water providers and end users.
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[edit] Certification
Since 1983, IA has offered training courses and education classes through its Select Certified program. Certification programs include:
- Certified Irrigation Designer (CID)
- Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA)
- Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor (CGIA)
- Certified Landscape Water Manager (CLWM)
- Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist (CAIS)
- Certified Agricultural Water Manager (CAWM)
IA-certified irrigation contractors, landscape/turf irrigation designers, and golf and landscape irrigation auditors qualify to become Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense partners.[1]
Certified irrigation designers with a specialty in sprinkler, surface or drip-micro qualify to become Technical Service Providers for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.[2]
In September 2010, IA began offering computer based testing for certification exams[3] to advance its long-term goal of accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
[edit] Education
The Irrigation Foundation is a non-profit organization created by the Irrigation Association to be the recognized authority on irrigation education. Established more than two decades ago with the simple goal of granting scholarships to students, the Foundation was re-launched in 2005. Its new mission is to advance the irrigation industry using education that both attracts people into the profession and ensures ongoing professional success. The Foundation promotes education, career awareness and career recruitment through programs for both students and industry professionals.
[edit] Smart Irrigation Month
Smart Irrigation Month is a campaign[4] by the Irrigation Association to increase public awareness of the value of water-use efficiency and grow demand for water-saving products, practices and services. Focused on July, traditionally the month of peak demand in North America, the campaign is designed to:
- Educate homeowners, businesses, growers and other users about simple ways to save money and water.
- Encourage industry firms and professionals to promote smart irrigation practices and technologies to customers.
- Help water providers minimize peak water use and reduce demands on infrastructure in their communities.
- Reinforce the role efficient irrigation plays in providing real solutions to today’s water challenges.
Representative John Linder (R-GA) introduced H.Con.Res.118C: "Supporting the goals of Smart Irrigation Month, which recognizes the advances in irrigation technology and practices that help raise healthy plants and increase crop yields while using water resources more efficiently and encourages the adoption of smart irrigation practices throughout the United States to further improve water-use efficiency in agricultural, residential, and commercial activities."[5]
[edit] Smart Water Application Technologies program
The Smart Water Application Technologies program, which began in 2001, is a water provider and irrigation industry initiative to develop performance testing protocols and marketing tools for efficient irrigation products.
The program unites water providers, irrigation manufacturers, distributors, consultants, contractors, plus related professional industry associations to identify, research and promote technological innovations that advance efficient water use. Key goals are developing performance testing protocols and marketing tools for efficient irrigation product categories to promote market acceptance.
[edit] “Smart” Controllers
A testing protocol was developed by the Irrigation Association to evaluate the performance of “smart” controllers.
[edit] Soil Moisture Sensors
The Irrigation Association has developed a Soil Moisture Sensor protocol to evaluate sensors under laboratory conditions. This extensive evaluation looks at the sensor’s responses under varying levels of moisture, soil type, and salinity. The test is designed to expose the sensor to a wide range of conditions that exist in the field.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.html
- ^ http://techreg.usda.gov/About.aspx
- ^ http://www.irrigation.org/News/Press_Releases_2010/IA_Launches_Computer-Based_Certification_Testing.aspx
- ^ http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/water_efficiency/sim.html
- ^ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hc111-118
[edit] External links
- Irrigation Association web site [1]
