(A) Irrigation. All required landscaping shall be irrigated by one of the following methods:
(1) An underground sprinkling automatic irrigation system - either conventional spray, bubblers, drip emitters, drip tubing, porous pipe or other similar system.
(2) A hose attachment within 100 feet of all street yard required landscaped areas and plant materials where there is no road or parking pavement between the hose attachment and landscaped areas and the site plan area is no larger than one acre.
(3) Landscape areas planted with native grasses and wildflowers may use a temporary and above ground irrigation system in accordance with the design criteria outlined herein and shall be required to provide irrigation only for the first two growing seasons. The irrigation schedule is to be determined at time of planting and approved by the city or its designated agents.
(4) Hand watering may be considered for low and very low hydro zones.
(5) Use of non-treated water for irrigation is encouraged if a permanent suitable supply is available § 150.688 details credits and approved methods for innovative water management.
(6) Irrigation shall not be required for natural areas or existing trees which are not disturbed or affected by the proposed development.
(B) The irrigation methods used shall:
(1) Provide a moisture level in an amount and frequency adequate to sustain growth of the plant materials on a permanent basis;
(2) Be in place and operational at the time of the final landscape inspection.
(3) Be maintained and kept operational at all times to provide for efficient water distribution;
(4) Be described in the landscape plans by a detail and drawing, indicating the nature and location of the irrigation methods which will be used. The description should be specific enough to show that adequate irrigation will be provided to all required landscape areas and plant materials and that there is no disturbance to the critical root zones of existing trees.
(5) Turf zones and non-turf areas shall be on separate valves.
(6) Drip emitters and sprinklers shall be placed on separate valves.
(7) Bubblers for trees shall be placed on a separate valve. Bubblers shall not exceed one and one-half gallons per minute (gpm) for each device.
(8) Each valve shall irrigate a landscape with similar site, slope, and soil conditions and plant material with similar watering needs.
(9) Special attention shall be given to avoid runoff from slopes and to avoid overspray.
(C) Irrigation system requirements. Automatic irrigation systems shall comply with the following guidelines. These guidelines (division (C)(1) through (C)(8)) shall be noted on the site plan and shall be implemented as part of the landscape inspection.
(1) Adjustable flow controls shall be required on circuit remote control valves. Pressure regulation component(s) shall be required where static pressure exceeds manufacturer's recommended operating range.
(2) Valves and circuits shall be separated based on water use, so that turf areas can be watered separately from shrub and groundcover areas.
(3) Sprinkler heads shall have matched precipitation rates within each control valve circuit.
(4) Serviceable check valves shall be required where elevation differential may cause low head drainage adjacent to paving areas.
(5) Sprinkler head spacing shall be designed for head-to-head coverage or heads shall be spaced as per manufacturer's recommendations and adjusted for prevailing winds. The system shall be designed for minimum run-off and minimum overspray onto non-irrigated areas (i.e. paving and structures).
(6) All automatic irrigation systems shall be equipped with a controller capable of dual or multiple programming. Controllers shall have multiple cycle start capacity and a flexible calendar program, including the capability of being set to water once a week. All automatic irrigation systems shall be equipped with a rain and freeze sensor shut-off device.
(7) System must be designed to be able to water all zones within a maximum 15-hour period per week.
(8) Irrigation construction plans shall include a water budget that conforms with allowable landscaping water budget in § 150.681(A). A laminated copy of the water budget shall be permanently installed inside the irrigation controller door. Water budgets shall include:
(a) Estimated monthly water use (in gallons per application) and the area (in square feet) irrigated.
(b) Precipitation rates for each valve circuit.
(c) Monthly irrigation schedule for the plant establishment period (first three months) and recommended yearly watering schedule, including seasonal adjustments.
(d) Location of emergency irrigation system shut-off valve.