Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor

What may happen if a valve is not closed?

1. The pressure of the entire system could be affected

2. Only the specific zone will be impacted

3. Water supply will be completely halted

4. No changes will occur in the system

The correct answer is: The pressure of the entire system could be affected

If a valve is not closed, the pressure of the entire irrigation system could indeed be affected. This is because an open valve could result in continuous water flow, leading to lower pressure in the system due to the inability to maintain adequate pressure levels necessary for proper irrigation. When a valve remains open, water will flow from that zone, which may also cause fluctuations in pressure throughout the system, impacting other zones as well. This can lead to uneven water distribution, where some areas receive more water than they require, while others might be under-watered. Such imbalances can affect plant health, overall efficiency of the irrigation system, and lead to increased operational costs from wasted resources. In contrast, only a specific zone being impacted would not capture the systemic repercussions that can arise from improperly managing valve operation. If water supply were completely halted or if no changes occurred, these scenarios would not account for the effects on pressure distribution and operational efficiency that can result from a valve left open. Hence, it’s crucial to consider how one open valve can disrupt the entire irrigation system’s performance.