Texas Irrigation Technician – Advanced
Practice Exam (TCEQ Aligned) |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025/2026 |
Instant Download !!
1. A zone is experiencing severe water hammer immediately after valve closure.
The MOST appropriate corrective action is to:
A. Increase pump pressure
B. Install larger lateral piping
C. Install a slow-closing valve or water hammer arrestor (Correct Answer)
D. Reduce emitter spacing
Rationale:
Water hammer results from rapid valve closure causing pressure spikes. Slow-closing valves or
arrestors dissipate surge energy.
2. A backflow prevention assembly installed on a commercial system must be
tested:
A. Every 5 years
B. Only after repair
C. Annually by a licensed tester (Correct Answer)
D. Only during drought
Rationale:
TCEQ requires annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies by certified testers to ensure
potable water protection.
3. A 2-inch PVC mainline carries 150 GPM over 800 feet. Friction loss is
excessive. The BEST design correction is to:
A. Increase valve count
B. Upsize mainline diameter (Correct Answer)
,C. Decrease sprinkler spacing
D. Add emitters
Rationale:
Friction loss increases with velocity. Increasing pipe diameter reduces velocity and pressure loss.
4. Which condition most increases the risk of backsiphonage?
A. High municipal pressure
B. Negative pressure in the supply line (Correct Answer)
C. Elevated storage tanks
D. Pressure regulators
Rationale:
Backsiphonage occurs when supply pressure drops below system pressure.
5. In clay soils with slow infiltration, the MOST effective irrigation strategy is:
A. Long single-cycle watering
B. Increase precipitation rate
C. Cycle and soak scheduling (Correct Answer)
D. Wide sprinkler spacing
Rationale:
Cycle-and-soak prevents runoff by allowing infiltration between cycles.
6. A technician measures 45 PSI static pressure and 25 PSI dynamic pressure at
a zone head. The 20 PSI drop MOST likely indicates:
A. Broken sprinkler
B. Proper regulation
C. High friction loss or undersized piping (Correct Answer)
D. Excess precipitation
Rationale:
Large pressure drops suggest excessive flow demand or pipe restriction.
, 7. A pump short-cycles during irrigation. The most probable cause is:
A. Large pressure tank
B. Faulty pressure switch or undersized tank (Correct Answer)
C. Excess lateral piping
D. Oversized mainline
Rationale:
Short cycling occurs when pressure tanks are too small or switches malfunction.
8. The minimum vertical clearance for a Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly
(RPZ) above grade is typically:
A. 2 inches
B. 6 inches
C. 12 inches (Correct Answer)
D. 36 inches
Rationale:
RPZ assemblies must be installed at least 12 inches above grade to allow proper drainage and
testing access.
9. A rotor zone designed for 0.6 inches/hour precipitation is retrofitted with high-
efficiency nozzles delivering 0.4 inches/hour. Run times should be:
A. Reduced
B. Increased proportionally (Correct Answer)
C. Eliminated
D. Doubled automatically
Rationale:
Lower precipitation rates require longer run times to deliver equivalent water depth.
10. A master valve fails to open. The FIRST diagnostic step is to:
A. Replace controller
B. Replace valve
C. Check for 24V output at controller terminal (Correct Answer)
D. Increase water pressure
Practice Exam (TCEQ Aligned) |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025/2026 |
Instant Download !!
1. A zone is experiencing severe water hammer immediately after valve closure.
The MOST appropriate corrective action is to:
A. Increase pump pressure
B. Install larger lateral piping
C. Install a slow-closing valve or water hammer arrestor (Correct Answer)
D. Reduce emitter spacing
Rationale:
Water hammer results from rapid valve closure causing pressure spikes. Slow-closing valves or
arrestors dissipate surge energy.
2. A backflow prevention assembly installed on a commercial system must be
tested:
A. Every 5 years
B. Only after repair
C. Annually by a licensed tester (Correct Answer)
D. Only during drought
Rationale:
TCEQ requires annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies by certified testers to ensure
potable water protection.
3. A 2-inch PVC mainline carries 150 GPM over 800 feet. Friction loss is
excessive. The BEST design correction is to:
A. Increase valve count
B. Upsize mainline diameter (Correct Answer)
,C. Decrease sprinkler spacing
D. Add emitters
Rationale:
Friction loss increases with velocity. Increasing pipe diameter reduces velocity and pressure loss.
4. Which condition most increases the risk of backsiphonage?
A. High municipal pressure
B. Negative pressure in the supply line (Correct Answer)
C. Elevated storage tanks
D. Pressure regulators
Rationale:
Backsiphonage occurs when supply pressure drops below system pressure.
5. In clay soils with slow infiltration, the MOST effective irrigation strategy is:
A. Long single-cycle watering
B. Increase precipitation rate
C. Cycle and soak scheduling (Correct Answer)
D. Wide sprinkler spacing
Rationale:
Cycle-and-soak prevents runoff by allowing infiltration between cycles.
6. A technician measures 45 PSI static pressure and 25 PSI dynamic pressure at
a zone head. The 20 PSI drop MOST likely indicates:
A. Broken sprinkler
B. Proper regulation
C. High friction loss or undersized piping (Correct Answer)
D. Excess precipitation
Rationale:
Large pressure drops suggest excessive flow demand or pipe restriction.
, 7. A pump short-cycles during irrigation. The most probable cause is:
A. Large pressure tank
B. Faulty pressure switch or undersized tank (Correct Answer)
C. Excess lateral piping
D. Oversized mainline
Rationale:
Short cycling occurs when pressure tanks are too small or switches malfunction.
8. The minimum vertical clearance for a Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly
(RPZ) above grade is typically:
A. 2 inches
B. 6 inches
C. 12 inches (Correct Answer)
D. 36 inches
Rationale:
RPZ assemblies must be installed at least 12 inches above grade to allow proper drainage and
testing access.
9. A rotor zone designed for 0.6 inches/hour precipitation is retrofitted with high-
efficiency nozzles delivering 0.4 inches/hour. Run times should be:
A. Reduced
B. Increased proportionally (Correct Answer)
C. Eliminated
D. Doubled automatically
Rationale:
Lower precipitation rates require longer run times to deliver equivalent water depth.
10. A master valve fails to open. The FIRST diagnostic step is to:
A. Replace controller
B. Replace valve
C. Check for 24V output at controller terminal (Correct Answer)
D. Increase water pressure
