The following definitions are applicable to this chapter:
"Aggregate landscape areas"pertains to the areas undergoing development as one project or for production home neighborhoods or other situations where multiple parcels are undergoing development as one project, but will eventually be individually owned.
"Applied water"means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
"Artificial turf"means man-made, synthetic material which simulates the appearance of live, organic turf, grass, sod, or lawn. Artificial turf shall be of a type known as cut pile infill manufactured from polypropylene, polyethylene, or a combination of the two materials.
"Budget-based tiered-rate structure"means tiered or block rates for irrigation accounts charged by the retail water agency in which the block definition for each customer is derived from lot size or irrigated area and the evapotranspiration requirements of landscaping.
"Community aesthetics evaluation"refers to an evaluation that, while not subject to a permit, plan check or design review, may be performed to ensure the aesthetic standards of the community and irrigation efficiency intent is maintained.
"Desertscape"means landscaping applications designed to exist in water scarce environments.
"Estimated applied water use"means the average annual total amount of water estimated to be necessary to keep plants in a healthy state, calculated as provided in the Guidelines. It is based on the reference evapotranspiration rate, the size of the landscape area, plant water use factors, and the relative irrigation efficiency of the irrigation system.
"ET adjustment factor" or "ETAF"is equal to the plant factor divided by the irrigation efficiency factor for a landscape project, as described in the Guidelines. The ETAF is calculated in the context of local reference evapotranspiration, using site-specific plant factors and irrigation efficiency factors that influence the amount of water that needs to be applied to the specific landscaped area.
A combined plant mix with a site-wide average plant factor of 0.5 (indicating a moderate water need) and average irrigation efficiency of 0.71 produces an ET adjustment factor of (0.7) = (0.5/0.71), which is the standard of water use efficiency generally required by this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and the Guidelines, except that the ETAF for a special landscape area shall not exceed 1.0.
"Guidelines"refers to the Guidelines for Implementation of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, as adopted by the city, which describes procedures, calculations, and requirements for landscape projects subject to this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
"Hardscapes"means any durable material or feature (pervious and non-pervious) installed in or around a landscaped area, such as pavements or walls. Pools and other water features are considered part of the landscaped area and not considered hardscapes for purposes of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
"Irrigation efficiency"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 efficiency for purposes of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance are 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
"Landscaped area"means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the maximum applied water allowance and estimated applied water use calculations. The landscaped 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 nonirrigated areas designated for non-development (e.g., open spaces and existing 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 documentation package"means the documents required to be provided to the city for review and approval of landscape design projects, as described in the Guidelines.
"Landscape project"means total area of landscape in a project, as provided in the definition of "landscaped area," meeting the requirements under Section
18.16.030 of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
means a city or county, including a charter city or charter county, that is authorized to implement, administer, and/or enforce any of the provisions of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. The local agency may be responsible for the enforcement or delegation of enforcement of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance including, but not limited to, design review, plan check, issuance of permits, and inspection of a landscape project.
"Local water purveyor"means any entity, including a public agency, city, county, or private water company that provides retail water service.
"Maximum applied water allowance" or "MAWA"means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscaped area as specified in Section 2.2 of the Guidelines. It is based upon the area's reference evapotranspiration, the ET adjustment factor, and the size of the landscaped area. The estimated applied water use shall not exceed the maximum applied water allowance. MAWA = (ETo) (0.62) [(ETAF x LA) + ((1-ETAF) x SLA)]
"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.
"New construction"means, for the purposes of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, a new building with a landscape or other new landscape such as a park, playground, or greenbelt without an associated building.
"Non-pervious"means any surface or natural material that does not allow for the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
"Permit"means an authorizing document issued by local agencies for new construction or rehabilitated landscape.
"Pervious"means any surface or material that allows the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
"Plant factor" or "plant water use factor"is a factor, when multiplied by ETo, that estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For purposes of this Water Efficient Landscape 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 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 Water Efficient Landscape 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).
"Recycled water" or "reclaimed 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.
"Reference evapotranspiration" or "ETo"means a standard measurement of environmental parameters which affect the water use of plants. ETo is given expressed in inches per day, month, or year as represented in Appendix A of the Guidelines, and is an estimate of the evapotranspiration of a large field of four- to seven-inch tall, cool-season grass that is well watered. Reference evapotranspiration is used as the basis of determining the maximum applied water allowances.
"Rehabilitated landscape"means any re-landscaping project that meets the applicability criteria of Section
18.16.030, where the modified landscape area is greater than two thousand five hundred square feet.
means an automatic irrigation controller utilizing either evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data with non-volatile memory that shall be required for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation systems, recommending U.S. EPA WaterSense labeled devices as applicable.
"Special landscape area"means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants such as orchards and vegetable gardens, areas irrigated with recycled water, water features using recycled water, and recreational 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. Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue are cool-season grasses. Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass, Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalo grass are warm-season grasses.
"Valve"means a device used to control the flow of water in an irrigation system.
"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 landscaped area. Constructed wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment, habitat protection or storm water best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water treatment or storm water retention are not water features and, therefore, are not subject to the water budget calculation.
"Xeriscape"refers to landscaping and gardening which reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental irrigation. It is promoted in areas that do not have easily accessible supplies of fresh water, and is gaining acceptance in other areas as climate patterns shift.
(Ord. 1766 § 2, 2016)