The following terms and definitions pertain to the water efficiency sections of this chapter:
"Applied water"means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscaped area.
"Automatic irrigation controller"means an automatic timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.
"Certified professional"means a licensed landscape architect, a licensed landscape contractor, a licensed professional engineer, certified irrigation designer, or any other person authorized by the state to design a landscape or irrigation system, or a certified landscape irrigation auditor.
"Drip irrigation"means any non-spray low volume irrigation system utilizing emission devices with a flow rate measured in gallons per hour. Low volume irrigation systems are specifically designed to apply small volumes of water slowly at or near the root zone of plants.
"ET adjustment factor (ETAF)"means a factor 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 landscaped area.
"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, and connected to an automatic irrigation controller, or flow monitor capable of receiving flow signals and operating master valves and detecting high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunction.
"Friable"means a soil condition that is easily crumbled or loosely compacted down to a minimum depth per planting material requirements, so that the root structure of newly planted material is allowed to spread unimpeded.
"Graywater"means 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 wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.
"Hardscape"means any durable material (pervious and non-pervious) in a landscaped area, such as decks, patios or pedestrian walkways, and other non-irrigated elements which may include art work, benches, and bicycle parking.
"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.
"Irrigation audit"means an in depth evaluation of the performance of an irrigation system. An irrigation audit includes: inspection, system tune up, system test with distribution uniformity or emission uniformity, correction of any overspray or runoff that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule.
"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.
"Low water use plant"means a plant species whose water needs are compatible with local climate and soil conditions, and have a regionally adjusted plant factor of 0.0 through 0.3, per WUCOLS.
"Master shut-off valve"means an automatic valve installed at the irrigation supply point which controls water flow into the irrigation system.
"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.
"Native plant"means a plant indigenous to the coastal ranges of central and northern California, and more specifically, such plants that are suited to the ecology of the present or historic natural environment within the project's vicinity.
"No-water using plant"means a plant species with water needs that 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.
"Recreational area"means areas designated for active play, recreation or public assembly in parks, sports fields, picnic grounds, amphitheaters or golf courses course tees, fairways, roughs, surrounds and greens on any private property, excluding private single-family and two-family dwelling properties.
"Reference evapotranspiration" or "ETo"means a standard measurement of environmental parameters specific to the local climate which affect the water use of plants, expressed in inches per year, and used as the basis of calculating the maximum applied water allowance for local landscapes.
"Runoff"means water which is not absorbed by the soil or landscaping to which it is applied and flows from the landscaped area.
"Special landscaped area (SLA)"means an area of the landscaping dedicated solely to edible plants, recreational areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, water features using recycled water, and areas dedicated to active play such as parks, sports fields, golf courses, and where turf provides a playing surface.
"Turf"means a ground cover surface of mowed grass.
"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).
"WUCOLS"means the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species published by the University of California Cooperative Extension and the Department of Water Resources 2014.
(Ord. 2918-10 § 3; Ord. 3082-16 § 1)
