For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply, unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.
"Applied water" means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
"Automatic irrigation controller" means a timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system. Automatic irrigation controllers are able to self-adjust and schedule irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.
"Backflow prevention device" means a safety device used to prevent pollution or contamination of the water supply due to the reverse flow of water from the irrigation system.
"Certificate of Completion" means the document required as part of the Landscape Documentation Package, Prescriptive Compliance Option, and listed as Appendix C.
"Certified irrigation designer" means a person certified to design irrigation systems by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the US Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation designer certification program and Irrigation Association's Certified Irrigation Designer program.
"Certified landscape irrigation auditor" means a person certified to perform landscape irrigation audits by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program, such as the US Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation auditor certification program and Irrigation Association's Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor program.
"Certified professional" means a certified irrigation designer, certified landscape irrigation auditor, licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, licensed professional engineer, or any other person authorized by the state to design a landscape, an irrigation system, or authorized to complete a water budget.
"Compost" means the safe and stable product of controlled biologic decomposition of organic materials that is beneficial to plant growth.
"Conversion factor" means the number (0.62) that converts acre-inches per acre per year to gallons per square foot per year.
"Distribution uniformity" means the measure of the uniformity of irrigation water a defined area.
"Ecological restoration project" means a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
"Effective precipitation (Eppt) or usable rainfall" means the portion of total precipitation which becomes available for plant growth.
"Established landscape" means the point at which plants in the landscape have developed significant root growth into the soil. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth.
"Establishment period of plants" means the first year after installing the plant in the landscape or the first two years if irrigation will be terminated after establishment. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth. Native habitat mitigation areas and trees may need three to five years for establishment.
"Estimated total water use (ETWU)" means the total water used for the landscape as described in Appendix B.
"Evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF)" means a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas, that, when applied to reference evapotranspiration, adjusts for plant factors and irrigation efficiency. The ETAF for new and existing (non- rehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0. The ETAF for existing non-rehabilitated landscapes is 0.8.
"Evapotranspiration rate" means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specified time.
"Flow sensor" means an inline device installed at the supply point of the irrigation system that produces a repeatable signal proportional to flow rate. Flow sensors must be connected to an automatic irrigation controller, or flow monitor capable of receiving flow signals and operating master valves. This combination flow sensor/controller may also function as a landscape water meter or submeter.
"Friable" means a soil condition that is easily crumbled or loosely compacted down to a minimum depth per planting material requirements, whereby the root structure of newly planted material will be allowed to spread unimpeded.
"Fuel Modification Plan Guideline" means the guidelines from a local fire authority to assist residents and businesses that are developing land or building structures in a fire hazard severity zone.
"Graywater" means an untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge, has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes, and does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating wastes. Graywater includes, but is not limited to, wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers. Refer to California Health and Safety Code Section 17922.12.
"Hardscape" means any constructed feature in a landscape built of concrete, stone, wood, or other such non-pervious or pervious durable material, including, but not limited to, patios, walkways, and retaining walls.
"High water use plant" means a plant species whose demonstrated water needs are incompatible with local climate and soil conditions such that regular supplemental irrigation is required. Species classified "high water use" by "Water Use Classification of Landscape Species" (WUCOLS), having a regionally adjusted plant factor of 0.7 through 1.0, shall be considered high water use plants. High water use plants are prohibited in street medians.
"Hydrozone" means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs and rooting depth. A hydrozone may be irrigated or non-irrigated.
"Invasive plant species" means species of plants, listed in the invasive plant inventory of the California Invasive Plant Council (IPC) and the USDA invasive and noxious weeds database that have been identified as invasive to areas within the IPC-delineated Central West (CW) region.
"Irrigation audit" means an in-depth evaluation of the performance of an irrigation system conducted by a certified landscape irrigation auditor. An irrigation audit includes, but is not limited to: inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity or emission uniformity, reporting reporting overspray or runoff that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule. The audit must be conducted in a manner consistent with the Irrigation Association's Landscape Irrigation Auditor Certification program or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "WaterSense" labeled auditing program.
"Irrigation efficiency (IE)" means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially used divided by the amount of water applied. The irrigation efficiency for purposes of this chapter is 75% for overhead spray devices and 81% for drip systems.
"Irrigation survey" means an evaluation of an irrigation system that is less detailed than an irrigation audit. An irrigation survey includes, but is not limited to: inspection, system test, and written recommendations to improve performance of the irrigation system.
"Landscape architect" means a person who holds a license to practice landscape architecture in California as further defined by the California Business and Professions Code Section 5615.
"Landscape area" means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape installation. The landscape area does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or non-pervious hardscapes, and other non-irrigated areas designated for non-development (e.g., open spaces and existing wildland or native vegetation).
"Landscape contractor" means a person licensed by the State of California to construct, maintain, repair, install, or subcontract the development of landscape systems.
"Landscape project" means an undertaking of landscape design and installation on a particular area of land. A landscape project may be associated with an individual lot, a building project, or a multi-phased development. It may also be a larger, comprehensive landscape scheme that is not coupled with an individual building project.
"Landscape Documentation Package" means the documents required under Section 14.15.050.
"Landscape water meter" means an inline device installed at the irrigation supply point that measures the flow of water into the irrigation system and is connected to a totalizer to record water use. A landscape water meter may either be a customer service meter dedicated to landscape use provided by the local water purveyor or a privately owned meter or submeter.
"Lateral line" means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or sprinklers from the valve.
"Low water use plant" means a plant species whose demonstrated water needs are compatible with local climate and soil conditions such that regular supplemental irrigation is not required to sustain the plant after it has become established. Species classified as "very low water use" and "low water use" by "Water Use Classification of Landscape Species" (WUCOLS), having a regionally adjusted plant factor of 0.0 through 0.3, shall be considered low water use plants.
"Low-volume irrigation" means the application of irrigation water through a system of tubing or lateral lines and low-volume emitters such as drip, drip lines and bubblers specifically designed to apply small volumes of water slowly at or near the root zone of plants. Certain rotary emitters designed to provide highly efficient water distribution may also be included in this definition, at the discretion of the Director of Community Development.
"Master shut-off valve" means an automatic valve installed at the irrigation supply point which controls water flow into the irrigation system. When this valve is closed water will not be supplied to the irrigation system. A master valve will greatly reduce any water loss due to a leaky station valve.
"Maximum applied water allowance (MAWA)" means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscaped area calculated using the formula specified in Appendix B.
"Mined-land reclamation projects" means any surface mining operation with a reclamation plan approved in accordance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.
"Mulch" means any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw, compost, or inorganic mineral materials such as rocks, gravel, or decomposed granite, left loose and applied to the soil surface for the beneficial purposes of reducing evaporation, suppressing weeds, moderating soil temperature, and preventing soil erosion.
"Native plant" means a plant indigenous to a specific area of consideration. For the purpose of this chapter, the term refers to plants indigenous to the coastal ranges of central and northern California, and more specifically to such plants that are suited to the ecology of the present or historic natural community in the project's vicinity.
"New construction" means a new building with a landscape or other new landscape, such as a park, playground, or greenbelt without an associated building, for the purpose of this chapter.
"Non-residential landscape" means landscapes in commercial, institutional, industrial or public settings that may have areas designated for recreation or public safety assembly. It also includes portions of common areas of common interest developments with designated recreational areas.
"Operating pressure" means the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system are designed by the manufacturer to operate.
"Overhead sprinkler irrigation system or overhead spray irrigation system" means a system that delivers water through the air (e.g., spray heads and rotors).
"Overspray" means irrigation water that is delivered beyond the target area.
"Planning permit" means any permit as defined in Chapter 19.08 of this Code, for the purpose of this chapter.
"Plant factor" means a number, which, when multiplied by reference evapotranspiration (ETo), estimates the amount of water needed by plants. The plant factor ranges from 0.0 to 0.1 for very low water use plants, 0.1 to 0.3 for low water use plants, from 0.4 to 0.6 for moderate water use plants, and from 0.7 to 1.0 for high water use plants. Plant factors are based on the "Water Use Classification of Landscape Species" (WUCOLS) publication. Plant factors may also be obtained from horticultural researchers from academic institutions or professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
"Rain sensor or rain sensing shutoff device" means a component that automatically suspends an irrigation event when it rains.
"Recycled water" means treated wastewater, including reclaimed water or treated sewage effluent water of a quality suitable for non-potable uses including landscape irrigation and water features.
"Reference evapotranspiration (ETo)" means a standard measurement of environmental parameters that affect the water use of plants.
"Rehabilitated landscape" means any re-landscaping project that requires an architectural and site approval, design review, grading permit, use permit, or a discretionary permit of any sort, or requires a new or expanded water service application.
"Runoff" means water that is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied and flows from the landscape area.
"Soil moisture sensor" means a device that measures the amount of water in the soil. The device may also initiate or suspend irrigation.
"Special landscape area (SLA)" means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants, recreation areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, or water features using recycled water.
"Sprinkler head or spray head" means a device that delivers water through a nozzle.
"Station" means an area served by one valve or by a set of valves that operate simultaneously.
"Submeter" means a metering device to measure water applied to the landscape that is installed after the primary utility water meter.
"Turf" means a ground cover surface consisting of non-native grass species that is customarily mowed. Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, red fescue, and tall fescue are examples of cool-season turf grasses. Bermuda grass, Kikuyu grass, seashore paspalum, St. Augustine grass, zoysia grass, and buffalo grass are warm-season turf grasses.
"Valve" means a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system.
"Water feature" means a landscape design element where open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features include ponds, fountains, lakes, waterfalls, artificial streams and any design elements where water is supplied artificially. Spas and swimming pools that are ancillary to single-family, two-family and multi-family residential uses also are considered water features.
"Wet surface area" means the surface area of that portion of a water feature that functions to contain water, such as the water surface of a swimming pool, spa, or garden pond. For a fountain or other feature with flowing water, wet surface area shall be measured as a two dimensional plane bounded by the perimeter of the area where water has been designed to flow.
"Wildland urban interface" means a geographic area identified by Chapter 16.74 of this Code to be at a significant risk from wildfires.
"WUCOLS" means the publication "Water Use Classification of Landscape Species" published by the University of California Cooperative Extension, and the Department of Water Resources 2014.
(Ord. 16-2142 (part), 2016)