Chapter 5.55
LANDSCAPE WATER USE EFFICIENCY PROGRAM
Sections:
5.55.050 Landscape documentation package requirements.
5.55.060 Landscape water use efficiency enforcement.
5.55.010 Short title.
This chapter shall be known as the “landscape water use efficiency program.” (Ord. 375 § 1, 2009)
5.55.020 Intent.
It is the intent of the board in adopting this program to:
A. Establish provisions for water management practices and water waste prevention;
B. Establish a structure for planning, designing, installing, maintaining, and managing water-efficient landscapes in new construction and rehabilitated projects;
C. To reduce the water demands from landscapes without a decline in landscape quality or quantity;
D. To retain flexibility and encourage creativity through appropriate design;
E. To assure the attainment of water-efficient landscape goals by requiring that landscapes not exceed a maximum water demand of 70 percent of their reference evapotranspiration (ETo) or any lower percentage as may be required by Western policy or state legislation, whichever is stricter;
F. To eliminate water waste from overspray and/or runoff;
G. To achieve water conservation by raising the public awareness of the need to conserve water through education and motivation to embrace an effective water demand management program; and
H. To implement the requirements to meet the state of California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act 2006 and the California Code of Regulations Title 23, Division 2, Chapter 2.7. (Ord. 375 § 2, 2009)
5.55.030 Definitions.
The terms used in this program have the meaning set forth below:
A. “Backfilling” means to refill an excavation, usually with excavated material.
B. “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.
C. “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 the sprinkler heads when the system is off.
D. “Established landscape” means the point at which plants in the landscape have developed significant root growth into the site. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth.
E. “Estimated annual water use” or “EAWU” means the estimated total water use per year as calculated using the formula contained in WMWDC 5.55.060(B)(3).
F. “Evapotranspiration” means the loss of water to the atmosphere by the combined processes of evaporation from soil and plant surfaces, and transpiration from plant tissues. It is an indication of how much water a plant needs to sustain healthy growth. It is expressed as inches of water per time period.
G. “Hydrozone” means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs. A hydrozone may be irrigated or nonirrigated.
H. “Invasive species” means nonindigenous species (both plants and animals) that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally, or ecologically. Lists of invasive species are included within the Western Riverside County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan and the Coachella Valley Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (incorporated by reference). In addition, for the purposes of this program, invasive species include other locally invasive species as further defined by a local lead agency.
I. “Landscape architect” means a person who holds a license to practice landscape architecture in the state of California (Government Code Section 5615).
J. “Landscaped area” or “LA” means all of the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the maximum applied water allowance (MAWA) calculation. The landscaped area does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or impervious hardscapes, and other nonirrigated areas designated for nondevelopment (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
K. “Local water purveyor” means any entity, including a public agency, city, county or private water company, that provides retail water service to customers in Riverside County.
L. “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.
M. “Maximum applied water allowance” or “MAWA” means the upper limit of annual applied water allowed for the established landscaped area as calculated using the formula contained in WMWDC 5.55.060(B)(2).
N. “Overhead sprinkler irrigation systems” means systems that deliver water through the air (e.g., pop-ups, impact sprinklers, spray heads and rotors, etc.).
O. Reference Evapotranspiration. “ETo” is evapotranspiration from a standardized vegetation surface, such as well-irrigated cool-season grass, in a particular location. It is given in inches per day, month, or year. Reference evapotranspiration is used as the basis of determining the maximum applied water allowances so that regional differences in climate can be accommodated. Reference evapotranspiration numbers shall be taken from the most current Evapotranspiration Zones Map by the California Department of Water Resources. For geographic areas not covered by the Evapotranspiration Zones Map, data from nearby areas shall be used.
P. “Rehabilitated landscape” means any relandscaping project that requires a permit, plan check, or design review, and/or would meet the requirements of WMWDC 5.55.040.
Q. “Special landscape area” means an area of the landscape dedicated to edible plants, areas irrigated with recycled water, and publicly accessible areas dedicated to active play such as parks, sports fields, golf courses, where turf provides a playing field or where turf is needed for high-traffic activities.
R. “Temporarily irrigated” means irrigation for the purposes of establishing plants, or irrigation which will not continue after plant establishment. Temporary irrigation is for a period of six months or less.
S. “Water-intensive landscaping” means a landscape with a WUCOLS plant factor of 0.7 or greater.
T. “WUCOLS” means the publication entitled “Water Use Classification of Landscape Species” by the University of California Cooperative Extension (1999 or most current version). (Ord. 375 § 3, 2009)
5.55.040 Applicability.
The water-efficient landscape requirements contained in this program apply to all existing properties with landscape areas one acre or greater in size and all properties served by a dedicated landscape irrigation meter. (Ord. 375 § 4, 2009)
5.55.050 Landscape documentation package requirements.
An applicant proposing any new landscape that is subject to this program as defined in WMWDC 5.55.040, and designated for recycled water use, is advised that recycled water irrigation systems will entail additional coordination with Western, the land use agency and the maintenance entity’s standards, approvals, and implementation requirements. Therefore, applicants shall consult with Western early in the development review process to ensure that future recycled water facilities meet the projected demand and that subsequent landscape plans comply with the applicable standards, approvals, and implementation requirements of Western, the land use agency, and maintenance entity.
Water systems for common open space areas shall use nonpotable water if approved facilities are made available by Western. Provisions for a nonpotable water system shall be provided within the landscape plan. Water systems designed to utilize nonpotable water shall be designed to meet all applicable standards of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Riverside County health department. (Ord. 375 § 5, 2009)
5.55.060 Landscape water use efficiency enforcement.
A. Restrictions. The following water conservation requirements are intended to avoid water waste and are effective at all times. These requirements shall be subject to change, from time to time, by the board. For example, and not by way of limitation, the board may revise or amend Western’s water conservation and supply shortage program from time to time.
1. Limits on Watering Hours. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water, excluding agricultural crops grown for commercial sale, is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on any day, except:
a. By use of a hand-held bucket or similar container;
b. A hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shutoff nozzle or device;
c. Through permanently installed low-volume point-to-point drip irrigation that is completely covered by an organic or inorganic mulch layer;
d. For very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system; or
e. For very short periods of time during the first three weeks of a new landscape’s establishment period. Overhead irrigation shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
2. No Excessive Water Flow or Runoff. Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area in a manner that causes or allows excessive water flow or runoff onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter or ditch is prohibited.
3. No Washing Down Hard or Paved Surfaces. Washing down hard or paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or alleys, is prohibited except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards, and then only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shutoff device, a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used, or a low-volume, high-pressure water broom.
4. Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions. Excessive use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected, and in no event more than four days, is prohibited.
B. Landscape Meter Requirements.
1. A separate dedicated meter is required for landscaped areas greater than or equal to 2,500 square feet.
2. The efficient use of water shall be considered in the design of any new landscaped area. The maximum applied water allowance (MAWA) will be calculated for customers that request a new account using the following formula:
|
MAWA (in gallons) = (ETo)(0.62)[(0.7 x LA) + (0.3 x SLA)] |
|
|
Where: |
|
|
ETo |
is historic local reference evapotranspiration |
|
LA |
is total landscape area (including the SLA) in square feet |
|
SLA |
is the amount of special landscape area in square feet |
a. For the purposes of determining the maximum applied water allowance, average irrigation efficiency is assumed to be 0.71. Irrigation systems shall be designed, maintained, and managed to meet or exceed an average irrigation efficiency of 0.71.
3. Prior to the issuance of a meter, the new customer shall calculate the estimated annual water use (EAWU) for each landscaped area using the following formula:
|
EAWU (in gallons) = (ETo)(0.62) [((PF x HA)/IE) + SLA] |
|
|
Where: |
|
|
ETo |
is reference evapotranspiration |
|
PF |
is plant factor |
|
HA |
is hydrozone area in square feet |
|
IE |
is irrigation efficiency (minimum 0.71) |
|
SLA |
is the amount of special landscape area in square feet |
a. Landscaping plans shall provide the EAWU (in the same units as the MAWA) for each landscaped area or hydrozone. The sum of all EAWU totals shall not exceed the MAWA for the project.
b. The plant factor used shall be from WUCOLS. The plant factors for low water-use plants range from 0 to 0.3, for moderate water-use plants range from 0.4 to 0.6, and for high water-use plants range from 0.7 to 1.0.
c. The plant factor calculation is based on the proportions of the respective plant water uses and their plant factor, or the plant factor of the higher water-using plant is used.
d. The surface area of a water feature shall be included in the high water-use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation, and temporarily irrigated areas in the low water-use hydrozone.
4. For the new meter to be issued, the sum of the EAWUs for all landscaped areas of the project cannot exceed the MAWA for the project as calculated in subsection (B)(2) of this section. Calculations shall be submitted to Western for review.
5. New accounts that have to comply with equivalent or more stringent water use efficiency measures imposed by another jurisdiction do not need to comply with the requirements of this section, but do need to provide information about the landscape area to Western.
a. Enforcement. Western provides water efficiency audits and surveys for all direct retail water customers to ensure water is being used efficiently. Western’s authority includes the implementation of a water budget-based rate structure for all customers based on metrics described in the State landscape model ordinance, the county task force local water-efficient ordinance and the maximum annual water allowance formula detailed above for landscapes installed after January 1, 2010. Landscapes existing prior to January 1, 2010, and qualifying special landscape areas will be given landscape factors of 0.80 and 1.0, respectively, as outlined in the state model ordinance. (Ord. 375 § 6, 2009)