Colorado Landscape Irrigation Auditor
Certification Practice Examination 100
Questions with Correct Answers Plus
Explanation 2026/27 Instant Pdf Download
Section 1: Certification Overview and Program Requirements
(Questions 1-10)
1. The EPA WaterSense labeled professional certifying program for
irrigation system audits offered in Colorado is the:
a) Certified Landscape Professional (CLP)
b) Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)
c) Landscape Industry Certified (LIC)
d) Green Industry Auditor (GIA)
Correct Answer: b) Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)
Explanation: QWEL is an EPA WaterSense labeled program
providing certification for irrigation auditors .
2. In Colorado, the QWEL program is facilitated by Professional
Certifying Organizations like:
a) Colorado Department of Transportation
b) South Metro Water Supply Authority and the City of Aspen
c) The Denver Water Board
d) The US Department of Agriculture
Correct Answer: b) South Metro Water Supply Authority and the
City of Aspen
Explanation: South Metro Water Supply Authority and the City of
Aspen are active Professional Certifying Organizations for the QWEL
program in Colorado .
,3. To earn QWEL certification, a candidate must:
a) Pass the exam only
b) Complete the irrigation audit only
c) Attend all training and pass the exam
d) Attend all training, complete an irrigation audit, and pass the exam
Correct Answer: d) Attend all training, complete an irrigation audit,
and pass the exam
Explanation: QWEL requirements include full attendance,
completion of an irrigation audit, and passing the exam .
4. What is the annual renewal requirement for maintaining QWEL
certification?
a) Pay a renewal fee of $50
b) Report 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
c) Pass a recertification exam
d) No renewal is required
Correct Answer: b) Report 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Explanation: QWEL requires 2 CEUs annually, with 1 CEU related to
efficient irrigation and 1 CEU related to any green industry topic .
5. Which entity defines a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor as
one certified by a program labeled by the EPA WaterSense
program?
a) Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA)
b) Telluride Municipal Code
c) South Metro Water Supply Authority
d) Colorado State University Extension
Correct Answer: b) Telluride Municipal Code
Explanation: Telluride's municipal code defines a Certified
Landscape Irrigation Auditor as a person certified by an accredited
program or the QWEL program .
,6. City of Aspen's Water Efficient Landscaping Standards require
QWEL graduates to perform:
a) Landscape design services
b) Third-party irrigation audits
c) Soil testing
d) Plant selection consulting
Correct Answer: b) Third-party irrigation audits
Explanation: The City of Aspen's standards specify that QWEL
graduates are certified to perform third-party irrigation audits .
7. The QWEL curriculum includes which of the following topics?
a) Financial management for landscaping businesses
b) Electrical engineering principles
c) Irrigation systems maintenance and troubleshooting
d) Marketing strategies for water efficiency
Correct Answer: c) Irrigation systems maintenance and
troubleshooting
Explanation: QWEL curriculum includes irrigation maintenance and
troubleshooting as a core section .
8. Which of the following topics is NOT part of the QWEL
curriculum?
a) Sustainable Landscaping
b) Soils
c) Heavy Equipment Operation
d) Irrigation Controllers
Correct Answer: c) Heavy Equipment Operation
Explanation: Heavy Equipment Operation is not listed in the QWEL
curriculum sections, which include soils, sustainable landscaping,
irrigation systems, and controllers .
9. The QWEL program was originally developed by:
, a) The EPA
b) Colorado State University
c) The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership
d) The Irrigation Association
Correct Answer: c) The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership
Explanation: The QWEL curriculum was designed by the Sonoma-
Marin Saving Water Partnership, composed of water efficiency
experts .
10. QWEL graduates who pass the certification program are listed
for hire on which websites?
a) EPA WaterSense, QWEL, and the City of Aspen
b) EPA, OSHA, and CDPHE
c) The USGS and Colorado DNR
d) LinkedIn and Indeed
Correct Answer: a) EPA WaterSense, QWEL, and the City of Aspen
Explanation: QWEL graduates are listed on the EPA WaterSense,
QWEL, and City of Aspen websites .
Section 2: Soils, Water, and Plant Relationships (Questions 11-25)
11. Why is understanding soil type important for irrigation
auditing?
a) It affects the choice of sprinkler heads
b) It determines the pipe material
c) It affects infiltration rate and root zone water holding capacity
d) It determines the cost of the audit
Correct Answer: c) It affects infiltration rate and root zone water
holding capacity
Certification Practice Examination 100
Questions with Correct Answers Plus
Explanation 2026/27 Instant Pdf Download
Section 1: Certification Overview and Program Requirements
(Questions 1-10)
1. The EPA WaterSense labeled professional certifying program for
irrigation system audits offered in Colorado is the:
a) Certified Landscape Professional (CLP)
b) Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)
c) Landscape Industry Certified (LIC)
d) Green Industry Auditor (GIA)
Correct Answer: b) Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)
Explanation: QWEL is an EPA WaterSense labeled program
providing certification for irrigation auditors .
2. In Colorado, the QWEL program is facilitated by Professional
Certifying Organizations like:
a) Colorado Department of Transportation
b) South Metro Water Supply Authority and the City of Aspen
c) The Denver Water Board
d) The US Department of Agriculture
Correct Answer: b) South Metro Water Supply Authority and the
City of Aspen
Explanation: South Metro Water Supply Authority and the City of
Aspen are active Professional Certifying Organizations for the QWEL
program in Colorado .
,3. To earn QWEL certification, a candidate must:
a) Pass the exam only
b) Complete the irrigation audit only
c) Attend all training and pass the exam
d) Attend all training, complete an irrigation audit, and pass the exam
Correct Answer: d) Attend all training, complete an irrigation audit,
and pass the exam
Explanation: QWEL requirements include full attendance,
completion of an irrigation audit, and passing the exam .
4. What is the annual renewal requirement for maintaining QWEL
certification?
a) Pay a renewal fee of $50
b) Report 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
c) Pass a recertification exam
d) No renewal is required
Correct Answer: b) Report 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Explanation: QWEL requires 2 CEUs annually, with 1 CEU related to
efficient irrigation and 1 CEU related to any green industry topic .
5. Which entity defines a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor as
one certified by a program labeled by the EPA WaterSense
program?
a) Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA)
b) Telluride Municipal Code
c) South Metro Water Supply Authority
d) Colorado State University Extension
Correct Answer: b) Telluride Municipal Code
Explanation: Telluride's municipal code defines a Certified
Landscape Irrigation Auditor as a person certified by an accredited
program or the QWEL program .
,6. City of Aspen's Water Efficient Landscaping Standards require
QWEL graduates to perform:
a) Landscape design services
b) Third-party irrigation audits
c) Soil testing
d) Plant selection consulting
Correct Answer: b) Third-party irrigation audits
Explanation: The City of Aspen's standards specify that QWEL
graduates are certified to perform third-party irrigation audits .
7. The QWEL curriculum includes which of the following topics?
a) Financial management for landscaping businesses
b) Electrical engineering principles
c) Irrigation systems maintenance and troubleshooting
d) Marketing strategies for water efficiency
Correct Answer: c) Irrigation systems maintenance and
troubleshooting
Explanation: QWEL curriculum includes irrigation maintenance and
troubleshooting as a core section .
8. Which of the following topics is NOT part of the QWEL
curriculum?
a) Sustainable Landscaping
b) Soils
c) Heavy Equipment Operation
d) Irrigation Controllers
Correct Answer: c) Heavy Equipment Operation
Explanation: Heavy Equipment Operation is not listed in the QWEL
curriculum sections, which include soils, sustainable landscaping,
irrigation systems, and controllers .
9. The QWEL program was originally developed by:
, a) The EPA
b) Colorado State University
c) The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership
d) The Irrigation Association
Correct Answer: c) The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership
Explanation: The QWEL curriculum was designed by the Sonoma-
Marin Saving Water Partnership, composed of water efficiency
experts .
10. QWEL graduates who pass the certification program are listed
for hire on which websites?
a) EPA WaterSense, QWEL, and the City of Aspen
b) EPA, OSHA, and CDPHE
c) The USGS and Colorado DNR
d) LinkedIn and Indeed
Correct Answer: a) EPA WaterSense, QWEL, and the City of Aspen
Explanation: QWEL graduates are listed on the EPA WaterSense,
QWEL, and City of Aspen websites .
Section 2: Soils, Water, and Plant Relationships (Questions 11-25)
11. Why is understanding soil type important for irrigation
auditing?
a) It affects the choice of sprinkler heads
b) It determines the pipe material
c) It affects infiltration rate and root zone water holding capacity
d) It determines the cost of the audit
Correct Answer: c) It affects infiltration rate and root zone water
holding capacity
