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a. All required landscaping and screening must be installed as part of the project construction. Upon installation, the general contractor shall submit to the Building Official a signed certification stating that all required landscaping, buffering and screening has been installed in accordance with the approved plan. If the installed landscaping is not in compliance with the approved plan, a final "As-Built" plan shall be submitted to the Planning Department for review per Section 10-294. The City reserves the right to verify all landscaping installations before or after the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or final inspection. (Ord. No. 0-2018-83; 10/24/18)
b. All tree planting and plant screening required by this code must be installed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, where required, or prior to the commencement of use.
c. All landscaping must be installed in a sound manner and in accordance with accepted planting procedures.
d. All elements of landscaping must be installed so as to meet all other applicable city ordinances and policies.
e. Landscape areas, both those proposed and those to be retained, must be protected from vehicular encroachment during and after the construction phase by appropriate barriers.
f. All landscape requirements of this code will continue after the building permit is issued to any owner or subsequent owner. (Ord. No. 0-98-90, 11/18/98) (Ord. No. 0-2002-46, 10/9/02).
a. Irrigation must comply with the Texas Water Code.
b. One of the following irrigation methods must be used to ensure survival of the required plant material in landscaped areas:
1. Conventional System
An automatic underground irrigation system which may be a conventional spray or bubbler type heads.
2. Drip or Leaky-Pipe System
An automatic underground irrigation system in conjunction with a water-saving system such as a drip or a leaky pipe system.
3. Temporary and Above-Ground Watering
Landscape areas using drought resistant plants and installation techniques, including areas planted with native grasses, wildflowers, and trees may use a temporary and above ground system, and are required to provide irrigation for the first three growing seasons.
c. Irrigation is not required for undisturbed natural areas or undisturbed existing trees. Must have a water source consisting of a hose bib accessible to each area within parking lots.
d. All irrigation systems must be equipped with freeze and rain indicators as specified in the Texas Water Code.
Sec. 10-309. Valid License Required
a. License. Any person who connects an irrigation system to the water supply within the City must hold a valid license, as defined by Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 30 and required by Chapter 1903 of the Texas Occupations Code, or as defined by Chapter 365, Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code and required by Chapter 1301 of the Texas Occupations Code.
b. Exemptions to License Requirement. A property owner is not required to be licensed in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Title 12, Sec. 1903.002(c)(1) if he or she is performing irrigation work in a building or on a premises owned or occupied by the person as the person’s home. A home or property owner who installs an irrigation system m’’us’t meet the standards contained in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 344 regarding spacing, water pressure, spraying water over impervio’’us’ materials, rain or moisture shut-off devices or other technology, backflow prevention and isolation valves. The City may, at any point, adopt more stringent requirements for a home or property owner who installs an irrigation system. See Texas Occupations Code Sec. 1903.002 for other exemptions to the licensing requirement. (Ord. No. 0-2009-19; 3/11/09)
Sec. 10-310. Permit Required
a. Any person installing an irrigation system within the territorial limits of the City is required to obtain a permit from the City. Any plan approved for a permit must be in compliance with the requirements of this Division. Plumbing fees are located in Chapter 6.
b. Exemptions
1. An irrigation system that is that an on-site sewage disposal system, as defined by Section 366.002, Health and Safety Code; or
2. An irrigation system used on or by an agricultural operation as defined by Section 251.002, Agriculture Code; or
3. An irrigation system connected to a groundwater well used by the property owner for domestic use. (Ord. No. 0-2009-19; 3/11/09)
Sec. 10-311. Backflow Prevention Methods and Devices
a. Any irrigation system that is connected to the potable water supply must be connected through a backflow prevention method approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The backflow prevention device must be approved by the American Society of Sanitary Engineers; or the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California; or the Uniform Plumbing Code; or any other laboratory that has equivalent capabilities for both the laboratory and field evaluation of backflow prevention assemblies. The backflow prevention device must be installed in accordance with the laboratory approval standards or if the approval does not include specific installation information, the manufacturer's current published recommendations.
b. If conditions that present a health hazard exist, one of the following methods must be used to prevent backflow;
1. An air gap may be used if:
(a) there is an unobstructed physical separation; and
(b) t he distance from the lowest point of the water supply outlet to the flood rim of the fixture or assembly into which the outlet discharges is at least one inch or twice the diameter of the water supply outlet, whichever is greater.
2. Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assemblies may be used if:
(a) the device is installed at a minimum of 12 inches above ground in a location that will ensure that the assembly will not be submerged; and
(b) drainage is provided for any water that may be discharged through the assembly relief valve.
3. Pressure vacuum breakers may be used if:
(a) no back-pressure condition will occur; and
(b) t he device is installed at a minimum of 12 inches above any downstream piping and the highest downstream opening. Pop-up sprinklers are measured from the retracted position from the top of the sprinkler.
4. Atmospheric vacuum breakers may be used if:
(a) no back-pressure will be present;
(b) there are no shutoff valves downstream from the atmospheric vacuum breaker;
(c) the device is installed at a minimum of six inches above any downstream piping and the highest downstream opening. Pop-up sprinklers are measured from the retracted position from the top of the sprinkler;
(d) there is no continuous pressure on the supply side of the atmospheric vacuum breaker for more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period; and
(e) a separate atmospheric vacuum breaker is installed on the discharge side of each irrigation control valve, between the valve and all the emission devices that the valve controls.
c. Backflow prevention devices used in applications designated as health hazards must be tested upon installation and annually thereafter.
d. If there are no conditions that present a health hazard, double check valve backflow prevention assemblies may be used to prevent backflow if the device is tested upon installation and test cocks are used for testing only.
e. If a double check valve is installed below ground:
1. test cocks must be plugged, except when the double check valve is being tested;
2. test cock plugs must be threaded, water-tight, and made of non-ferrous material;
3. a y-type strainer is installed on the inlet side of the double check valve;
4. there must be a clearance between any fill material and the bottom of the double check valve to allow space for testing and repair; and
5. there must be space on the side of the double check valve to test and repair the double check valve.
f. If an existing irrigation system without a backflow-prevention assembly requires major maintenance, alteration, repair, or service, the system must be connected to the potable water supply through an approved, properly installed backflow prevention method before any major maintenance, alteration, repair, or service is performed.
g. If an irrigation system is connected to a potable water supply through a double check valve, pressure vacuum breaker, or reduced pressure principle backflow assembly and includes an automatic master valve on the system, the automatic master valve must be installed on the discharge side of the backflow prevention assembly.
h. The irrigator shall ensure the backflow prevention device is tested by a licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester prior to being placed in service and the test results provided to the local water purveyor and the irrigation system's owner or owner's representative within ten business days of testing of the backflow prevention device. (Ord. No. 0-2009-19; 3/11/09)
Sec. 10-312. Specific Conditions and Cross-Connection Control
a. Before any chemical is added to an irrigation system connected to the potable water supply, the irrigation system must be connected through a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly or air gap.
b. Connection of any additional water source to an irrigation system that is connected to the potable water supply can only be done if the irrigation system is connected to the potable water supply through a reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly or an air gap.
c. Irrigation system components with chemical additives induced by aspiration, injection, or emission system connected to any potable water supply must be connected through a reduced pressure principle backflow device.
d. If an irrigation system is designed or installed on a property that is served by an on-site sewage facility, as defined in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 285, then:
1. all irrigation piping and valves must meet the separation distances from the On-Site Sewage Facilities system as required for a private water line in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Section 285.91(10);
2. any connections using a private or public potable water source that is not the city’s potable water system m’’us’t be connected to the water source through a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly as defined in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Section 344.50; and
3. any water from the irrigation system that is applied to the surface of the area utilized by the On-Site Sewage Facility system must be controlled on a separate irrigation zone or zones so as to allow complete control of any irrigation to that area so that there will not be excess water that would prevent the On-Site Sewage Facilities system from operating effectively. (Ord. No. 0-2009-19; 3/11/09)
Sec. 10-313. Water Conservation
All irrigation systems shall be designed, installed, maintained, altered, repaired, serviced, and operated in a manner that will promote water conservation as defined in the Definitions section of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 0-2009-19; 3/11/09)
Sec. 10-314. Irrigation Plan Design: Minimum Standards
a. An irrigator shall prepare an irrigation plan for each site where a new irrigation system will be installed. A paper or electronic copy of the irrigation plan must be on the job site at all times during the installation of the irrigation system. A drawing showing the actual installation of the system is due to each irrigation system owner after all new irrigation system installations. During the installation of the irrigation system, variances from the original plan may be authorized by the licensed irrigator if the variance from the plan does not:
1. diminish the operational integrity of the irrigation system;
2. violate any requirements of this Division; and
3. go unnoted in red on the irrigation plan.
b. The irrigation plan must include complete coverage of the area to be irrigated. If a system does not provide complete coverage of the area to be irrigated, it must be noted on the irrigation plan.
c. All irrigation plans used for construction must be drawn to scale. The plan must include, at a minimum, the following information:
1. the irrigator's seal, signature, and date of signing;
2. all major physical features and the boundaries of the areas to be watered;
3. a North arrow;
4. a legend;
5. the zone flow measurement for each zone;
6. location and type of each:
(a) controller; and
(b) sensor (for example, but not limited to, rain, moisture, wind, flow, or freeze);
7. location, type, and size of each:
(a) water source, such as, but not limited to a water meter and point(s) of connection;
(b) backflow prevention device;
(c) water emission device, including, but not limited to, spray heads, rotary sprinkler heads, quick-couplers, bubblers, drip, or micro-sprays;
(d) valve, including but not limited to, zone valves, master valves, and isolation valves;
(e) pressure regulation component; and
(f) main line and lateral piping.
8. the scale used; and
9. the design pressure. (Ord. No. 0-2009-19; 3/11/09)
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