Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor

The volume in milliliters should be approximately ____ times the throat area of the catch device in square inches.

1. 1.0

2. 1.5

3. 2.0

4. 2.5

The correct answer is: 1.5

The correct choice indicates that the volume in milliliters should be approximately 1.5 times the throat area of the catch device in square inches. This relationship is based on the principle that effective measurement of precipitation and irrigation water application requires an appropriate volume of catchment material relative to the catch device's throat area to ensure accurate and reliable readings. Using a factor of 1.5 times the throat area accommodates variations in flow and allows for efficient capturing of water without overflow or inadequate measurement. It ensures that the catch device can hold enough water to accurately reflect the rate at which irrigation is applied, while also considering practical aspects of measurement and environmental conditions. While understanding why this specific value is optimal, it's also important to recognize why the other factors are not as fitting. Values significantly lower than 1.5 would risk not capturing enough water for accurate readings, especially during heavy irrigation events. Higher values might lead to unnecessary complexity or difficulties in managing the catch device effectively.