Academic Catalog

HORT 54C: LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION: IRRIGATION PRACTICES

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 3
Hours: 2.5 lecture, 1.5 laboratory per week (48 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Identify the parts of an irrigation system (pipes and fittings, sprinkler heads, valves, backflow preventers, drip systems, and controllers).
  • Program an irrigation time clock (controller) correctly.

Description

Methods and materials used in the irrigation of ornamental landscapes. Selection of materials and operational theory of irrigation equipment. Installation techniques for sprinkler and drip irrigation systems. Water conservation features and maintenance of irrigation systems.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Compare irrigation systems used in various settings.
  2. Analyze a site for irrigation needs.
  3. Select the correct irrigation equipment for spray and drip irrigation systems.
  4. Construct an irrigation system.
  5. Demonstrate maintenance skills for an irrigation system.
  6. Contrast irrigation central control systems.
  7. Design water conserving irrigation systems.

Course Content

  1. Irrigation systems
    1. Residential
    2. Commercial
    3. Institutional
    4. Parks
    5. Estates
  2. Site analysis techniques
    1. Data collection
    2. Gallons per minute (GPM) and pounds per square inch (PSI)
    3. Location of existing irrigation components
    4. Site terrain
  3. Selecting equipment
    1. Pipes and fittings
    2. Sprinkler heads
    3. Drip systems
    4. Valves
    5. Backflow preventers
    6. Controllers
  4. Installation techniques
    1. Site preparation
    2. Trenching
    3. Pipe assembly
    4. Wiring
    5. Valve assembly
    6. Controller installation
  5. Irrigation system maintenance
    1. Troubleshooting
    2. Repairs and replacement parts
    3. Renovating an irrigation system
    4. Evaluating system performance
    5. System operation
  6. Overview of central control systems
    1. Central control of parks and municipal settings
    2. Central control for estates
  7. Water conservation and water management
    1. Future trends in water management
    2. Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) in California
    3. Recycled and untreated water in irrigation
      1. Gray water use in irrigation systems
      2. Secondary or tertiary treated sewage water
      3. Well water

Lab Content

  1. Copper and solvent welding lab: Hands-on instruction in welding of copper pipe and fittings, solvent welding of plastic pipe, and making pipe and irrigation component connections for threaded fittings.
  2. Spray head and rotor lab: Field installation and adjustment of a variety of sprinkler products.
  3. Controller programming lab: Individual instruction on the programming of irrigation controllers, covering standard solid-state controllers, ET based controllers, and central control systems.
  4. Drip irrigation lab: Installation of drip systems including standard PE flexible lines, drip heads, and in-line drip emitter systems.
  5. Valve troubleshooting lab: Modular lab covers all the common problems that irrigation professionals may encounter when valves malfunction in the landscape.
  6. Irrigation system installation lab: One or more labs whereby students install an irrigation system.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Wet lab, horticultural facilities and equipment.
2. Students provide appropriate work boots and clothing for fieldwork, leather gloves, tape measure, screwdrivers, mechanics pliers, utility knife, face mask, ear plugs, eye protection, and small calculator.
3. When taught as hybrid, on-going access to computer with email and internet access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Exams
Laboratory skills tests

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lectures
Discussions
Laboratory
Class and field demonstrations
Field trips
Speakers

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Keesen, Larry E.. The Complete Irrigation Workbook: Design, Installation, Maintenance, and Water Management, 2nd ed.. 2013.

While this text is older than the "5 years or newer" standard, it is a seminal text and contains necessary information.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

Reading assignments will include reading approximately 35 pages per week from the assigned text with supplemental reading from a course reader. Out of class reading/assignments is approximately five hours per week.

Discipline(s)

Ornamental Horticulture