For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ATHLETIC FIELD. A turf area used primarily for organized sports.
AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER. A solid state timer capable of operating valve stations to set the days and length of time water is applied.
BUBBLERS. Irrigation heads which deliver water to the soil adjacent to the heads.
CITY OWNED. Property owned by the City of Albuquerque.
COVENANTS. Agreements entered into by property owners, leaseholders, and renters which set conditions for the use, maintenance, and/or sale of property.
DEVELOPMENT. The construction, erection, or emplacement of one or more buildings, structures, or surface improvements on land which is a premises in order to establish or expand a principal residential or nonresidential use.
DISTURBED SLOPES. Slopes that have been altered from their natural configuration or vegetative cover by human activity.
DRIP IRRIGATION. Low pressure, low volume irrigation applied slowly, near or at ground level to minimize runoff and loss to evaporation.
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION. The quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil surfaces and transpired by plants during a specific time.
EVEN-NUMBERED PROPERTIES. Properties whose official address ends in an even number, excluding city parks and golf courses. Landscaped areas associated with a building will use the number of that building as their address. Only one address shall be used for a large landscaped area associated with one building or activity, even if the landscaped area is broken into many separate subareas.
FLOW RESTRICTION DEVICE. Device applied by the water utility to the customer's meter that restricts the volume of flow to the customer.
FUGITIVE WATER. The pumping, flow, release, escape, or leakage of any water from any pipe, valve, faucet, connection, diversion, well, or any facility for the purposes of water supply, transport, storage, disposal, or delivery onto adjacent property or the public right-of-way.
HAND WATERING. The application of water for irrigation purposes through a hand-held hose, including hoses moved into position by hand and left to flow freely or through a shut-off nozzle.
HARVESTED WATER. Precipitation or irrigation runoff collected, stored and available for reuse for irrigation purposes.
HIGH WATER USE TURF. A surface layer of earth containing regularly mowed grass, with its roots, which requires large volumes and/or frequent application of water throughout its life. High water use grasses include but are not limited to varieties of Bluegrass, varieties of Ryegrass, varieties of Fescue, and Bentgrass.
INFILTRATION RATE. The amount of water absorbed by the soil per unit of time, usually expressed in inches per hour.
INSPECTION. An entry into and examination of premises for the purpose of ascertaining the existence or nonexistence of violations of this article.
LANDSCAPE AREA. The entire parcel less the building footprint, driveways, non-irrigated portions of parking lots and required off-street parking. Includes the public right-of-way.
LOW WATER USE PLANTS. Plants which are able to survive without supplemental water once established as specified in the “Albuquerque Plant List”, published by the city.
MAYOR. The Mayor of Albuquerque or his/her designated representative.
MEDIUM AND LOW WATER USE TURF. A surface layer of earth containing regularly mowed grass, with its roots, which requires moderate or low volumes and/or frequency of application of water once established as specified in the "Albuquerque Plant List" published by the city. Low and medium water use grasses include but are not limited to Bermuda and Bermuda hybrids, Zoysia, blue grama, and Buffalo grass.
MEDIUM WATER USE PLANTS. Plants which require some supplemental watering throughout the life of the plant as specified in the “Albuquerque Plant List” published by the city.
MISTER. A device that produces a cooling effect by emitting fine particles of water into the air in the form of a mist.
MULCH. Any material such as leaves, bark, straw, or other materials applied to the soil surface to reduce evaporation.
NEW DEVELOPMENT. Any development approved by the Albuquerque Planning Department on or after October 1, 1995. For development for which landscaping is required, which is all development except single family residential, only that portion approved by the Albuquerque Planning Department on or after October 1, 1995 shall be considered new development. Development approved by the Albuquerque Planning Department prior to October 1, 1995, but not completed by October 1, 1998 shall also be considered new development.
NON-CITY OWNED. All property which is not owned by the City of Albuquerque.
ODD-NUMBERED PROPERTIES. Properties whose official address ends in an odd number, excluding city parks and golf courses. Large landscaped areas associated with a building will use the number of that building as their address. Only one address shall be used for a large landscaped area associated with one building or activity, even if the landscaped area is broken into many separate subareas.
PRECIPITATION RATE. The amount of water applied per unit of time, usually expressed in inches per hour.
PROPERTY HOLDER. An owner or leaseholder, whose landscaping is governed in whole or in part by rules applied to all property holders within a property holders' association.
PROPERTY HOLDERS ASSOCIATION. An association of property owners, leaseholders, or renters whose landscaping is governed in whole or in part by rules applied to all property holders within the development.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. The area of land acquired or obtained by the city, county, or state primarily for the use of the public for the movement of people, goods, vehicles, or storm water. For the purposes of this article the public right-of-way shall include curbs, streets, and storm water drainage inlets.
RESPONSIBLE PARTY. The owner, manager, supervisor, or person who receives the water bill, or person in charge of the property, facility, or operation during the period of time the violation(s) is observed.
RESTRICTED PLANTS. Plants which, as specified in the "Albuquerque Plant List" published by the city, are classified as restricted due to their high water use requirements and their potential for extensive use in landscaping. Restricted plants include high water use turf, clover, and Dichondra.
RUNOFF. Water which is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied. Runoff occurs when water is applied too quickly (application rate exceeds infiltration rate), particularly if there is a severe slope. This article does not apply to stormwater runoff which is created by natural precipitation rather than human-caused or applied water use.
SHUT-OFF NOZZLE. Device attached to end of hose that completely shuts off the flow, even if left unattended.
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL. A lot or premises upon which is established one dwelling only. Of the allowable principal uses, such use shall be the only use on that lot or premises.
SPRAY IRRIGATION. The application of water to landscaping by means of a device that projects water through the air in the form of small particles or droplets.
SPRINKLER HEAD. A device that projects water through the air in the form of small particles or droplets.
STATIC WATER PRESSURE. The pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is not flowing.
TEMPORARY IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. Irrigation systems which are installed and permanently disabled within a period of 36 contiguous months.
VALVE. A device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system.
WATER WASTE. The nonbeneficial use of water. Nonbeneficial uses include but are not restricted to:
(1) Landscape water applied in such a manner, rate and/or quantity that it overflows the landscaped area being watered and runs onto adjacent property or public right-of-way;
(2) Landscape water which leaves a sprinkler, sprinkler system, or other application device in such a manner or direction as to spray onto adjacent property or public right-of-way;
(3) Washing of vehicles, equipment, or hard surfaces such as parking lots, aprons, pads, driveways, or other surfaced areas when water is applied in sufficient quantity to flow from that surface onto adjacent property or the public right-of-way;
(4) Water applied in sufficient quantity to cause ponding on impervious surfaces on non-city owned property.
(Ord. 18-1995; Am. Ord. 24-1998; Am. Ord. 42-2001; Am. Ord. 13-2004)