FALLS CHURCH, VA (Apr. 6, 2007) – The Irrigation Association announced that William G. Simmons, Jr., of Wilmington, NC passed the required IA certification examination to become a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA).

A CLIA is qualified to evaluate irrigation system performance and make repair, maintenance and scheduling recommendations based on a review of the site conditions and a formal audit of the system’s water distribution patterns.

“An irrigation audit is vital to operating and maintaining an efficient irrigation system and a healthy landscape,” said James Dowd, chair of the Irrigation Association Certification Board. “An IA Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor has demonstrated a firm understanding of standard irrigation audit guidelines to get consistent, useful results.”

To become a CLIA, individuals must attend a course and pass a specialized exam designed to meet standards of validity, reliability and difficulty. Certified individuals have made a commitment to professionalism, subscribing to a code of ethics.

The Irrigation Association began its certification programs in 1983 to provide an avenue for qualified irrigation professionals to demonstrate their experience and technical competence within and outside the industry.

For more information on the IA Certification Program, visit www.irrigation.org, or contact Certification Manager Karen Koenig, Irrigation Association, 6540 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042; phone (703) 536-7080; fax (703) 536-7019, or e-mail karen@irrigation.org

The mission of the Irrigation Association is to promote efficient and effective water management and be the voice of the industry worldwide.