"Amendment"means any material added to the soil to alter the pH or improve the natural physical properties of the soil, such as increased organic content, water retention, water infiltration, and drainage.
"Anti-drain or check 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.
"Application rate"means the depth of water applied to a given area, usually measured in inches per hour.
"Applied water"means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
"Automatic irrigation controller"means a timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system. Automatic irrigation controllers are able to self-adjust and schedule irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.
"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.
"Bay-friendly"means a holistic approach to gardening and landscaping developed and espoused by StopWaste.org that works in harmony with the natural conditions of the San Francisco Bay watershed. Bay-friendly practices foster soil health and conserve water and other valuable resources while reducing waste and preventing pollution.
"Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines"means the most recent version of the guidelines developed by StopWaste.org for use in the professional design, construction and maintenance of landscapes.
"Bay-Friendly Maintenance Manual"means the most recent version of the manual outlining bay-friendly maintenance practices administered by the Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition.
"Bay-Friendly Rated Scorecard"means the most recent version of the bay-friendly points system for landscaping administered by the Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition.
"Bubbler"means an irrigation head that delivers water to the root zone by flooding the planted area, usually measured in gallons per minute. Bubblers exhibit a trickle, umbrella, or short stream pattern.
"Certified irrigation designer"means a person certified to design irrigation systems by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation designer certificate program and the Irrigation Association's certified irrigation designer program.
"Certified landscape irrigation auditor"means a person certified to perform landscape irrigation audits by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation auditor certification program and the Irrigation Association's certified landscape irrigation auditor program.
"CIMIS"means the California Irrigation Management Information System, which is a network of weather stations located around the state which collects reference evapotranspiration data and is managed by the California Department of Water Resources.
"City"means the area within the legal boundaries of the City of Livermore.
"Common interest developments"means community apartment projects, condominium projects, planned developments, and stock cooperatives per California Civil Code Section
1351.
means the safe and stable product of controlled biologic decomposition of organic materials that is beneficial to plant growth.
"Cycle"means the complete operation of an irrigation controller station.
"Director"means the Community Development Department Director or his or her designee.
"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.
"Drought-resistant soil"means soil that has been supplemented, for example by addition of an amendment such as compost and by covering with mulch, to maximize rainfall infiltration, increase the soil's capacity to hold water, and allow for plant roots to penetrate and proliferate such that the landscape can survive with less than the maximum applied water allowance.
"Drought-tolerant, extra"refers to a plant or landscape that can survive without irrigation throughout the year once established, although supplemental water may be desirable during drought periods for improved appearance and disease resistance. Plants in "Water-Conserving Plants and Landscape for the Bay Area" (latest edition), published by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, that can tolerate "no water after second year" are examples of such plants. Also known as "xeric" or "xeriscape" plants or landscapes.
"Emitter"means a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly from the system to the soil.
"Established landscape"means the point in time at which plants in the landscape have developed roots into the soil adjacent to the root ball. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth.
"Establishment period of the plants"means the first year after installing the plant in the landscape or the first two years if irrigation will be terminated after establishment. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth. Native habitat mitigation areas and trees may need three to five years for establishment.
"ET adjustment factor (ETAF)"means a factor of 0.55 for residential and 0.45 for nonresidential 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 (nonrehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0. The ETAF for existing nonrehabilitated landscapes is 0.8.
"Evapotranspiration rate"means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil surfaces and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specific time.
"Fertilizer"means a substance added to soil to provide nutrients.
"Flow rate"means the rate at which water flows through pipes, valves and emission devices, measured in gallons per minute, gallons per hour, or cubic feet per second.
"Flow sensor"means an inline device installed at the supply point of the irrigation system that produces a repeatable signal proportional to flow rate. Flow sensors must be connected to an automatic irrigation controller, or flow monitor capable of receiving flow signals and operating master valves. This combination flow sensor/controller may also function as a landscape water meter or submeter.
"Friable"means a soil condition that is easily crumbled or loosely compacted down to a minimum depth per planting material requirements, whereby the root structure of newly planted material will be allowed to spread unimpeded.
"Grading"means earthwork performed to alter the natural contours of an area.
"Grasses, cool-season"means grasses that green up and grow more during the spring, set seed in early summer, then go dormant during warmer seasons until fall, when they begin growing again; e.g., annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, red fescue, and tall fescue.
"Grasses, warm-season"means grasses that green up and grow more during the summer, set seed in fall, and go dormant during cold seasons; e.g., seashore paspalum, St. Augustine grass, zoysiagrass, bahiagrass, and buffalo grass.
"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.
"Green roof"means a roof of a structure partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, typically planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.
"Hardscapes"means any durable material (pervious and nonpervious).
"High water using plant"means a plant that will require regular irrigation for adequate appearance, growth and disease resistance.
"Homeowner-provided landscaping"means any landscaping either installed by a private individual for an owner-occupied detached or attached single-family residence or installed by a licensed contractor hired by a homeowner.
"Hydrozone"means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs and rooting depth. A hydrozone may be irrigated or nonirrigated.
"Infiltration rate"means the rate of water entry into the soil expressed as a depth of water per unit of time (e.g., inches per hour).
"Invasive plant species"means species of plants not historically found in California that spread outside cultivated areas and can also damage environmental or economic resources. Invasive species may be regulated by county agricultural agencies as noxious species. Lists of invasive plants are maintained at the California Invasive Plant Council Inventory and USDA invasive and noxious weeds database.
"Irrigated"means supplied with equipment that can apply water from an irrigation system.
"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 and emission uniformity.
"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 from management practices. The irrigation efficiency for purposes of this chapter is 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
"Irrigation survey"means an evaluation of an irrigation system that is less detailed than an irrigation audit. An irrigation survey includes, but is not limited to: inspection, system test, and written recommendations to improve performance of the irrigation system.
"Irrigation system"means a complete connection of system components, including the water source, the water distribution network, controller and the necessary irrigation equipment.
"Landscape architect"means a person licensed to practice landscape architecture in State of California Business and Professions Code Section
5615.
means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the maximum applied water allowance calculation. "Landscape area" does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or nonpervious hardscapes, and other nonirrigated areas designed for nondevelopment (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 water meter"means an inline device installed at the irrigation supply point that measures the flow of water into the irrigation system and is connected to a totalizer to record water use.
"Lateral line"means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water from the source to the emitters or sprinklers from the valve.
"Local water purveyor"means an entity, including a public agency, city, county or private water company, that provides retail water service.
"Low volume 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 water using plant"means a plant that can survive throughout the year with little irrigation and is semi-drought-tolerant.
"Main line"means the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the water source to the valve or outlet.
"Master shut-off valve"means 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)"means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscape area as specified in LMC §
13.25.060. It is based upon the area's reference evapotranspiration, the ET adjustment factor, and the size of the landscape area. The estimated total water use shall not exceed the maximum applied water allowance. Special landscape areas, including recreation areas, areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants such as orchards and vegetable gardens, and areas irrigated with recycled water, are subject to the MAWA with an ETAF not to exceed 1.0. MAWA = (ETo)(0.62) [(ETAF x LA) + ((1-ETAF) x SLA)]
means an area between opposing lanes of traffic that may be unplanted or planted with trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses.
"Microclimate"means the climate of a small, specific area that may contrast with the climate of the overall landscape area due to factors such as wind, sun exposure, plant density, slope, or proximity to reflective surfaces.
"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"means any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw, compost, or inorganic mineral material such as rocks, gravel, or decomposed granite left loose and applied to the soil surface to the beneficial purposes of reducing evaporation, suppressing weeds, moderating soil temperature, and preventing soil erosion.
"New construction"means a new building with a landscape or other new landscape, such as a park, playground, or greenbelt, without an associated building.
"Nonresidential landscape"means landscapes in commercial, institutional, industrial and public settings that may have areas designated for recreation or public assembly. It also includes portions of common areas or common interest developments with designated recreational areas.
"Operating pressure"means the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system are designed by the manufacturer to operate.
"Overspray"means irrigation water that is delivered beyond the target area.
"Parkway"means the area between a sidewalk and the curb or traffic lane. It may be planted, unplanted, and with or without pedestrian egress.
"Permeable"means any surface or material that allows the substantial passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil (also "pervious").
"Permit"means an authorization issued by the City for new construction or rehabilitated landscapes and can include but not be limited to a building or landscape permit, plan check, land use entitlement, design review, encroachment permit, or capital improvement project approval.
"Pervious"means any surface or material that allows the substantial passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
"Plant factor" or "plant water use factor"means a factor that, when multiplied by ETo, estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For purposes of this chapter, 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 chapter 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 of connection"means the point at which an irrigation system connects into the public water system and is usually the point at which the meter and backflow prevention device are located or will be installed.
"Project applicant"means the individual or entity submitting a landscape documentation package required under LMC §
13.25.050, to request a permit, plan check, or design review from the City. A project applicant may be the property owner or his or her designee.
means the area of land under common ownership and use which contains the landscape area subject to a permit, and which may contain other features including but not limited to buildings, structures, and/or circulation routes.
"Record drawings" or "as-builts"means a set of reproducible drawings which show significant changes in the work made during construction and which are usually based on drawings marked up in the field and other data furnished by the contractor.
"Recreational area"means areas, excluding private single-family residential areas, designated for active play, recreation or public assembly in parks, sports fields, picnic grounds, amphitheaters or golf course tees, fairways, roughs, surrounds and greens.
"Reference evapotranspiration" or "ETo"means a standard measurement of environmental parameters that affect the water use of plants. ETo is expressed in inches per day, month, or year 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 so that regional differences in climate can be accommodated.
"Registered historical site"means a site that is listed in a national, state or local register or inventory of historic resources or is zoned with a historic preservation (HP) combining district overlay.
"Rehabilitated landscape"means any landscaping project that requires a permit, plan check, or design review, meets the requirements of LMC §
13.25.020, and the modified landscape area is equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet.
means a valve in an irrigation system which is activated by an automatic electric controller via a wired or wireless signal.
"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.
"Smart irrigation controller"means an electronic automatic irrigation controller that is weather or soil moisture based with a timing device used to operate remote control valves that operate an irrigation system, which schedules irrigation events using evapotranspiration (weather-based) data such as that from the California Irrigation and Management Information System (see definition of "CIMIS") and/or data from an integral or auxiliary soil moisture or rain sensor, and which may also include a high flow sensor for high flow damage or malfunction control.
"Soil texture"means the classification of soil based on the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in the soil. Soil texture largely determines the amount of water that can be stored in a soil as well as the soil infiltration rate.
"Special landscape area (SLA)"means an area of landscape dedicated solely to edible plants, recreation areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, or water features using recycled water.
"Station"means an area served by one valve or a set of valves that operate simultaneously.
"Submeter"means a metering device to measure water applied to the landscape that is installed after the primary utility water meter.
"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"means a ground cover surface of mowed grass. Areas planted with lawn alternatives such as Carex pansa and other tufted grass or sedge species are not considered turf. See definitions of "grasses, warm-season" and "grasses, cool-season."
"Valve"means a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system.
"Very low water using plant"means a plant that can survive throughout the year with little or no irrigation and is generally extra drought-tolerant.
"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.
"Water purveyor"means the public or private owner or operator of the water supplying an approved water supply which provides the water that will be used to irrigate a landscape project.
"Wildfire management plan"means the guidelines from the Alameda County Fire Bureau to assist residents and businesses that are developing land or building structures in a fire hazard severity zone.
"WUCOLS"means the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species published by the University of California Cooperative Extension and the Department of Water Resources, 2014.
(Formerly 13.25.040; Ord. 1399 § 51, 1992; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 2016 §§ 1(A), 1(B), 2015; Ord. 2045 § 1(A), 2016; Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)