Trainings

Expanding Education Opportunities

As Northern Water grows its Water Efficiency Program, a key priority is partnering with other organizations to deliver educational opportunities for landscape professionals, municipal staff, and the public. These classes and trainings provide in-depth knowledge on topics such as the plant-soil-water relationship, plant water needs, landscape water budgeting, and irrigation management.

Our programs build expertise in landscape water management, irrigation efficiency, sustainability, and the health of plants, trees, and soil. Participants gain insights into emerging technologies, policies, planning, design, and best practices for implementation. Many trainings also support professional certification, enabling contractors to be listed on the EPA WaterSense “Find a Pro” portal and the ALCC’s “Find a Landscape Professional” directory.

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Northern Water Hosted Classes & Trainings

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Irrigation Association

Northern Water is proud to offer annual Irrigation Association (IA) trainings and certification opportunities. The IA is a nationally recognized leader in irrigation education, and its certifications support best practices in efficient landscape irrigation management. Certified professionals may also qualify to be listed as approved contractors for Northern Water’s Water Efficiency Grant application projects.

To promote accessibility, Northern Water subsidizes all attendance fees—making these classes free of charge, with lunch included for all participants.

Registration to open soon.

  • Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) – Feb. 23-24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    Learn how to assess irrigation system performance. This two-day session covers field tests and calculating accurate watering schedules based on plant water use, soils and local weather data. This class provides foundational information for the certified landscape irrigation auditor exam. 16 CEUs – Intermediate
  • Landscape Irrigation Technician (CIT) – Feb. 25, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or April 13, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 
    Learn the basics of hydraulics and irrigation system installation and maintenance, including an overview of irrigation system components and how they operate. Learn about gluing and repairing PVC pipe, installing nozzles and adjusting heads, setting and repairing electric valves and field and controller wiring techniques. This class provides foundational information for the certified irrigation technician exam. 8 CEUs – Beginner 
  • Principles of Irrigation: Landscape (CID) – Feb. 26-27, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.  
    Master theory and application principles for turf-landscape in this intensive session. Two full days cover soil-water-plant relationships, advanced hydraulics, electricity, pumps, valves and irrigation equipment. This class provides foundational information for the certified irrigation designer general landscape/turf exam. 16 CEUs – Intermediate 
  • Exam Study Session – March 2, 2-6 p.m.
Exams

Exam registration will be available on the Irrigation Association website closer to the exam dates.

  • Exam Session – Feb. 27, 8 a.m.-noon. 
  • Exam Session – April 8, 8 a.m.-noon

For more information regarding this training, please contact Spencer Bernard. 

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Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Northern Water continues to subsidize the Sustainable Landscape Management training and certificate program. This certificate is a great first step for professionals just entering the field of water efficiency and landscaping and prepares them for additional future learning. The training outlines sustainable landscape maintenance practices, why they are important and different from prior practices, anticipated outcomes of proper techniques, and who will benefit from the application of these techniques and practices. The four-hour classes are hosted throughout the Front Range year-round. The SLM training class and certificate is open to ALCC members only. Trainings will take place at Northern Water. Learn more about this training and register on the SLM website.

Partnership Trainings

As part of our partnerships at Northern Water, the following trainings are available through various partners. 

Resource Central Waterwise Yard Webinars 

Northern Water has partnered with Resource Central to offer multiple Waterwise Yard Seminars. Review the topics and sign up on the Resource Central website.  

Growing Water Smart 

Northern Water continues to support the Growing Water Smart workshop every other year. Growing Water Smart is a joint project between the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Sonoran Institute and the Lincoln Institute featuring workshops that bring leaders from a city, town, county or region together to devote entire days to learning, collaboration and planning, which lead to custom action plans to integrate land use and water planning, tailored to their unique needs and goals. The Growing Water Smart program introduces communities to the full range of communications, public engagement, planning, and policy implementation tools to realize their watershed health and community resiliency goals.  Funding and support are available post-completion to ensure implementation of the action plans. Registration is free and the Water Efficiency team is available to support prospective entities that may need guidance in preparing their application and assembling their team. This video from past participants shows the value they found working together.