An irrigation specialist is responsible for overseeing the planning, design,
installation and maintenance of irrigation systems. The irrigation system
may be part of a landscaping project, such as a golf course. Or it may be
part of an agricultural project, such as crop watering and resource management.
Irrigation specialists have many jobs. They work to provide the right amount
of water resources in any given area. They design the systems that will pump
and pipe water to where it is needed. And they spend time designing systems
that will get the most results from the least amount of water. In this way,
they are ensuring there will be enough water for everyone.
An irrigation specialist is part mechanical engineer and part observer.
The designing part of the job requires technical know-how. The observational
part of the job requires paying attention to details that indicate whether
the job was done correctly.
Part of an irrigation specialist's time is spent in the office, using a
computer to design irrigation systems and communicate with clients. The remaining
time is spent in the field either installing or overseeing the installation
of irrigation systems.
The average workday for an irrigation specialist is eight hours, with some
work occurring in an office environment and some occurring in the field. Irrigation
specialists must work well with clients, with other professionals in their
field and with people involved in construction.
Physically, a person who wanted to become an irrigation specialist should
be fully mobile. However, there are opportunities for those with disabilities
if they would like to work strictly on the design end.