For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:
Backflow prevention device
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.
California Invasive Plant Inventory
California Invasive Plant Inventory means the California Invasive Plant Inventory maintained by the California Invasive Plant Council.
Check valve or anti-drain valve
Check valve or anti-drain valve means a valve located under a sprinkler head, or other location in the irrigation system, to hold water in the system to prevent drainage from sprinkler heads when the sprinkler is off.
Community garden
Community garden means a piece of property or area of a property that is dedicated solely to edible plants and gardened by a cooperative group of people living in the area.
Community water system
Community water system means a public water system which serves at least fifteen (15) service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least twenty-five (25) year-round residents.
Developer-installed
Developer-installed means a landscape project installed by or under the direction of the developer of a development project.
Distribution uniformity
The measure of the uniformity of irrigation water over a defined area.
Ecological restoration project
Ecological restoration project means a project, where the primary function of such project is to assist in the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. For purposes of this ordinance, restoration focuses on establishing the composition, structure, pattern, and ecological processes necessary to make terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems sustainable, resilient, and healthy under current and future conditions.
Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU)
Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) means the total water used for the landscape. The ETWU is calculated based on the plants used and irrigation method selected for the landscape design. ETWU must be below the MAWA.
ET adjustment factor (ETAF)
ET adjustment factor (ETAF) means, except for special landscape areas, 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, two major influences upon the amount of water that needs to be applied to the landscape. 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 or ETo
Evapotranspiration or ETo means a standard measurement of environmental parameters that affect the water use of plants, and is an estimate of the Evapotranspiration of a large field of four (4) to seven (7) inch tall, cool-season grass that is well watered.
Graywater
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. Health and Safety Code Section 17922.12. All graywater systems shall conform to the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 16) and any applicable local ordinance standards.
Head to head coverage
Head to head coverage means full coverage from one sprinkler head to the next.
Homeowner-provided landscaping
Homeowner-provided landscaping means any landscaping either installed by a private individual for a single family residence or installed by a licensed contractor hired by a homeowner.
Hydrozone
Hydrozone means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs. A hydrozone may be irrigated or non-irrigated.
Invasive plant species
Invasive plant species means species of plants not historically found in California that spread outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or economic resources. Lists of invasive plants are maintained at the California Invasive Plant Inventory and USDA invasive and noxious weeds database.
Irrigation audit
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 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)
Irrigation efficiency (IE) means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially used divided by the amount of water applied. Irrigation efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates of irrigation system characteristics and management practices. The irrigation efficiencies for purposes of this ordinance are 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
Landscape area
Landscape area means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the Maximum Applied Water Allowance calculation. 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 native vegetation, non-irrigated orchards or vineyards).
Landscape contractor
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
Landscape project means total area of landscape in a project as defined in landscape area for the purposes of this ordinance, meeting requirements under Section 8-3.103 (Applicability).
Low volume irrigation
Low volume irrigation (also point source irrigation) means the application of irrigation water at low pressure through a system of tubing or lateral lines and low-volume emitters such as drip, drip lines, and bubblers. Low volume irrigation systems are specifically designed to apply small volumes of water slowly at or near the root zone of plants.
Low-head drainage
Low-head drainage means water that flows out of the system after the valve turns off due to elevation changes within the system.
Master shut-off valve
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)
Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscaped area. It is based upon the area’s reference evapotranspiration, the ET Adjustment Factor (ETAF), and the size of the landscape area. The Estimated Total Water Use shall not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.
Mined-land reclamation projects
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
Mulch means any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw, compost, or inorganic mineral materials such as rocks, gravel, and 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.
New construction and/or new development
New construction and/or new development means, for the purposes of this ordinance, a new building or structure with a landscape, or other new landscapes, such as a park, playground, or greenbelt without an associated building.
Overhead irrigation system
Overhead irrigation system means a system that delivers water through the air (e.g., spray heads and rotors).
Overspray
Overspray means the irrigation water which is delivered beyond the target area.
Pervious
Pervious means any surface or material that allows the passage of water through the material and into underlying soil.
Plant factor
Plant factor is a factor, when multiplied by ETo, estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For purposes of this ordinance, the plant factor range for very low water use plants is 0 to 0.1, the plant factor range for low water use plants is 0.1 to 0.3, the plant factor range for moderate water use plants is 0.4 to 0.6, and the plant factor range for high water use plants is 0.7 to 1.0. Plant factors cited in this ordinance are derived from the publication “Water Use Classification of Landscape Species”. 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).
Point source irrigation
See low volume irrigation.
Precipitation rate
Precipitation rate means the rate of application of water measured in inches per hour.
Rain sensor
Rain sensor means a component which automatically suspends an irrigation event when it rains.
Recycled water
Recycled water means treated or recycled waste water of a quality suitable for non-potable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features. This water is not intended for human consumption.
Rehabilitated landscape
Rehabilitated landscape means any re-landscaping project that requires a permit, plan check, or design review, meets the requirements of Section 8-3.103 (Applicability), and the modified landscape area is equal to or greater than twenty-five hundred (2,500) square feet, is fifty percent (50%) of the total landscape area, and the modifications are completed within one (1) year.
Runoff
Runoff means water which is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied and flows from the landscape area. For example, runoff may result from water that is applied at too great a rate (application rate exceeds infiltration rate) or when there is a slope.
Special Landscape Area (SLA)
Special Landscape Area (SLA) means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants (food producing gardens), areas irrigated with recycled water, water features using recycled water, storm water detention basins, and areas dedicated to active play such as parks, sports fields, golf courses, and where turf provides a playing surface.
Subsurface irrigation
Subsurface irrigation means an irrigation device with a delivery line and water emitters installed below the soil surface that slowly and frequently emit small amounts of water into the soil to irrigate plant roots.
Swing joint
Swing joint means an irrigation component that provides a flexible, leak-free connection between the emission device and lateral pipeline to allow movement in any direction and to prevent equipment damage.
Turf
Turf means a ground cover surface of mowed grass. Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue are cool-season grasses. Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalo grass are warm-season grasses. The meaning of turf does not include landscape areas planted with non-irrigated native California grasses.
Water feature
Water feature means a design element where open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features include ponds, lakes, waterfalls, fountains, artificial streams, spas, and swimming pools (where water is artificially supplied). The surface area of water features is included in the high water use hydrozone of the landscape area. Constructed wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment or stormwater best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water treatment or stormwater retention are not water features, and therefore, are not subject to the water budget calculation.
(Ord. 1445, eff. August 14, 2014; as amended by § 15, Ord. 1466, eff. March 24, 2016)