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Built EnvironmentISCO 7126

Irrigation technician

An irrigation technician is a person who installs, maintains and repairs the systems that water land: the sprinklers, the pipework, the valves and the controls that decide when and how much water is delivered.

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Check yourself in a minute: irrigation technician

Rate 5 of the 11 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

ensure compliance with environmental legislation

maintain irrigation controllers

maintain sprinkler systems

lay pipe installation

keep competences about irrigation systems up-to-date

About irrigation technician

Installation is the first part of the trade. The technician lays pipework to a plan, mounts the irrigation system and its sprinkler heads, and calculates the pressure the system has to run at, taking account of the length of each line, differences in ground level and the number of heads working at once. Different sprinkler types are selected to suit the crop, the soil and the shape of the ground.

Maintenance and repair take up the rest. The technician services sprinkler systems, maintains the irrigation control systems that run them, traces leaks and blockages, and operates the machinery used for handling irrigation equipment. Compliance with environmental standards is part of the work.

What an irrigation technician needs is a working understanding of irrigation systems and hydraulics, the practical skill to make and fix pipe joints that will not leak when buried, enough arithmetic to size a system, and the habit of keeping competence current as controllers and sensors change. Formal requirements are set by the employer and by the water-use rules of each country.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (11)

water pressurewater pressurePhysical laws, qualities and applications of liquid or water pressure.irrigation systemsirrigation systemsThe methods and systems management in irrigation.types of sprinklerstypes of sprinklersThe 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 system...ensure compliance with environmental legislationensure compliance with environmental legislationMonitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation....maintain irrigation controllersmaintain irrigation controllersMaintain and program different types of irrigation controllers including mechanical, solar battery, digital and computer controlled systems. Maintain procedures for safe re-use of water, render effici...maintain sprinkler systemsmaintain sprinkler systemsRepair 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 wir...lay pipe installationlay pipe installationInstall 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.keep competences about irrigation systems up-to-datekeep competences about irrigation systems up-to-dateKeep 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 ground...install irrigation systemsinstall irrigation systemsInstall and shift irrigation systems to distribute water according to needs. Install sprinkler systems and adjust the pumps, main feeder and lateral lines, sprinkler heads, valves, PVC pipes, controls...maintain irrigation systemsmaintain irrigation systemsInspect and assess irrigation systems according to agreed time schedules. Identify defects and wear in irrigation systems and arrange repairs.compute irrigation pressurecompute irrigation pressureCalculate how much pressure is needed for existing and planned irrigation systems. Include discharge and spray radius specification.
Optional (11) — show
water policieswater policiesThe framework of policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations concerning water.fire safety regulationsfire safety regulationsThe legal rules to be applied for fire safety and fire prevention in a facility.fire prevention proceduresfire prevention proceduresThe regulations concerning fire and explosion prevention, and the equipment, systems and methods used in it.water reusewater reusePrinciples of water re-use processes in complex circulation systems.follow water supply schedulefollow water supply scheduleAdapt 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 strategiesdevelop irrigation strategiesPlan the deployment of methods and procedures for watering the land by artificial means, taking into account strategies for water use sustainability. Put in place measures for safe re-use of water, im...organise irrigationorganise irrigationPlan and assist with irrigation scheduling and operation.inspect fire equipmentinspect fire equipmentInspect 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 qualitymonitor water qualityMeasure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.perform water testing proceduresperform water testing proceduresConduct testing procedures on water quality, such as pH tests and dissolved solids. Understand instrumentation drawings.measure water flowmeasure water flowMeasure water flow, water intakes and catchments.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does an irrigation technician do?

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.

What skills does an irrigation technician need?

An irrigation technician needs 11 essential skills, including water pressure, irrigation systems, types of sprinklers, ensure compliance with environmental legislation, maintain irrigation controllers.

Will AI replace irrigation technician jobs?

The AI disruption score for irrigation technician is 29/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: follow water supply schedule, compute irrigation pressure, fire safety regulations. Most resilient: maintain sprinkler systems, lay pipe installation, install irrigation systems.

Quick Facts

SectorBuilt Environment
ISCO GroupBuilding and related trades workers
Essential Skills11

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