HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem KSEAC'-
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 14, 2016
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: Jill R. Ingram, City Manager
FROM: Jim Basham, Interim Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 9.70 OF TITLE 9 OF THE SEAL BEACH
MUNICIPAL CODE AND CONSIDERATION OF
REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO WATER EFFICIENT
LANDSCAPING
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
That the City Council conduct a public hearing on proposed Ordinance No. 1655
amending Chapter 9.70 of Title 9 of the Seal Beach Municipal Code and the
proposed Regulations for the Implementation of the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance, pertaining to Water Efficient Landscaping, and introduce the First
Reading of Ordinance No. 1655.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS:
In 2006, the California State Assembly passed AB 1881 which required all local
agencies to develop water conservation policies by January of 2010. The
Department of Water Resources (DWR) created the Model Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance (State MWELO), to create a minimum standard that could
serve as a guide for local agencies.
On January 11, 2010, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1588 that
provided the water efficient landscaping requirements currently in effect. The
following provides a basic summary of projects that are subjected to the
requirements by the ordinance:
• New landscape installation projects by individual homeowners greater
than or equal to 5,000 square feet.
• New and rehabilitated landscape installation projects by local agencies,
private non - residential developers and property managers of single and
multi - family landscape projects that are 2,500 square feet or larger.
Agenda Item K
On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown signed Drought Executive Order (EO) B -29-
15, which directed DWR to update the State MWELO that was originally
approved in 2010. The goal of the State MWELO, along with other legislation,
sought to achieve a 25% in potable water use reduction in the State by 2016
compared to the amount used in 2013.
Subsequently, DWR drafted an updated State MWELO to be applicable
statewide. DWR offered local agencies an option to adopt the updated State
MWELO or a local model ordinance tailored to better fit local agency's needs that
is at least as effective as the updated State MWELO.
In evaluating the requirements of the updated State MWELO, significant
differences between the new requirements and current regulations have been
identified. The following include the major changes to the state ordinance that
has been included in the draft City Ordinance and Regulations:
1. More efficient irrigation systems
• Dedicated landscape water meters or submeters are required for
residential landscapes over 5,000 sq. ft. and non - residential landscapes
over 1,000 sq. ft.
• Irrigation systems are required to have pressure regulators and master
shut -off valves.
• All irrigation emission devices must meet the national standard stated in
the Ordinance to ensure that only high efficiency sprinklers are installed.
• Flow sensors that detect and report high flow conditions due to broken
pipes and /or popped sprinkler heads are required for landscape areas
greater than 5,000 sq. ft.
• The minimum width of areas that can be overhead irrigated was changed
from 8 feet to 10 feet; areas less than 10 feet wide must be irrigated with
subsurface drip or other technology that produces no over spray or runoff
2. Incentives for graywater usage
• Landscapes under 2,500 sq. ft. that are irrigated entirely with graywater or
captured rainwater are subject only to the irrigation system requirements
per the Regulations, Appendix D.
3. Improvements in onsite stormwater capture
Friable soil is required in planted areas to maximize water retention and
infiltration. Four yards of compost per 1,000 sq. ft. of area must be
incorporated. Other recommended measures for increasing onsite
stormwater retention are listed in the Ordinance.
4. Limiting the percentage of turf planted in landscapes
Page 2
• The maximum amount of water that can be applied to a landscape is
reduced from 70% of the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) to 55% for
residential landscape projects, and to 45% of ETo for non - residential
projects. This water allowance reduces the landscape area that can be
planted with high water use plants such as cool season turf. For
residential projects, the coverage of high water use plants is reduced from
33% to 25% of the landscaped area. In nonresidential landscapes,
planting with high water use plants is not feasible. However, unchanged in
the Ordinance is the extra water allowance made for non - residential areas
when used for specific functional areas, such as recreation and edible
gardens. Extra water allowance is also made for landscapes irrigated with
recycled water, as was the case in the previous ordinance. The irrigation
efficiency of devices used to irrigate landscapes is one of the factors that
goes into determining the maximum amount of water allowed. Rather than
having one default irrigation efficiency for the entire site, the revised
Ordinance allows the irrigation efficiency to be entered for each area of
the landscape. The site -wide irrigation efficiency of the previous ordinance
was 0.71; the revised Ordinance defines the irrigation efficiency of drip as
0.81 and that of overhead spray as 0.75. Median strips cannot be
landscaped with high water use plants, precluding the use of cool season
turf. Also because of the requirement to irrigate areas less than ten feet
wide with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no runoff or
overspray, the use of cool season turf in parkways is limited.
5. Reporting requirements on the implementation and enforcement of the
Ordinance by local agencies
• All local agencies will report on the implementation and enforcement of
their ordinances to DWR. Reporting for all agencies will be due by January
31 st of each year thereafter.
Additionally, new development projects that include landscape areas of 500 sq.
ft. or more are subject to the draft City Ordinance. This applies to residential,
commercial, industrial and institutional projects that require a permit, plan check
or design review. However, the size threshold for existing landscapes that are
being rehabilitated has not changed.
The Metropolitan Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), working with
Orange County cities, established a committee for the purpose of creating a
regional Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance ( MWELO) to meet the
needs in Orange County. The committee, comprised of city staff from all 34 cities
in Orange County, water agencies, and landscape professionals, met between
summer and fall of 2015 and drafted an Orange County regional MWELO (OC
Model) and an accompanying guidelines document.
The OC Model and guidelines were reviewed by DWR and found to be consistent
with the State Code. The OC Model has been reformatted to fit into Chapter 9.70
of Title 9 of the Seal Beach Municipal Code. A copy of proposed Ordinance No.
Page 3
1655, updating and amending Chapter 9.70, is enclosed with this staff report as
Attachment A.
The proposed City of Seal Beach Regulations for Implementation of Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Regulations), which are attached hereto as
Attachment B. The Regulations contain the technical information that will be
provided to the development community to ensure compliance with the new
regulations. The Regulations will be presented for adoption by resolution at the
same time the Ordinance is adopted.
Presently, the City reviews and approves landscape and irrigation design plans
for residential, commercial and industrial projects as part of the plan check
processes for building permits. Additionally, the City separately issues plumbing
permits for installation of irrigation systems.
In conclusion, the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance is to promote the design,
installation, and maintenance of landscaping in a manner that conserves regional
water resources by ensuring that landscaping projects are not unduly water -
needy and that irrigation systems are appropriately designed and installed to
minimize water waste.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Proposed Ordinance No. 1655 is exempt from review under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (California Public Resources Code Section
21000 et seq.), pursuant to State CEQA Regulation 15307 (14 Cal. Code Reg.
§§ 15307 and 15308, as an action taken to assure the maintenance, restoration,
enhancement, or protection of a natural resource where the regulatory process
involves procedures for protection of the environment. Ordinance No. 1655 and
the Regulations are limited to ensuring water efficient landscaping options to
preserve water. There is no evidence to suggest that the Ordinance or
Regulations will result in a significant impact on the environment, including
impacts due to unusual circumstances. The adoption of Ordinance No. 1655
includes provisions that will result in the enhancement and protection of water
resources in the City, and will not result in cumulative adverse environment
impacts. As a separate and independent ground, the Ordinance is covered by
the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for
causing a significant effect on the environment. Because it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility that Ordinance No. 1655 will have a
significant effect on the environment, this Ordinance is not subject to CEQA
pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed ordinance and approved it as to
form.
Page 4
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact upon the City by adopting this ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council conduct a public hearing introducing the First Reading of
Ordinance No. 1655 amending Chapter 9.70 of Title 9 of the Seal Beach
Municipal Code pertaining to Water Efficient Landscaping; and also direct staff to
bring the proposed Regulations for the Implementation of the Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance back to the City Council for further consideration and
action at the same date and time as the second reading of Ordinance No. 1655.
SUBMITTEDiY:
i
G
'Basham
rim Director of Public Works
NOTED AND APPROVED:
'Il . Ingram, City M pan ger
Prepared by: Cesar Rangel, Associate Engineer
Attachments:
A. Ordinance No. 1655
B. City of Seal Beach Regulations for the Implementation of the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance
Page 5
Attachment "A"
ORDINANCE NO. 1655
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEAL
BEACH, AMENDING CHAPTER 9.70 OF TITLE 9 OF THE SEAL
BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO WATER EFFICIENT
LANDSCAPING
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 9.70 (Water Efficient Landscaping) of Title 9, of the Seal
Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"Chapter 9.70: Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
§ 9.70.005 Purpose
A. The State Legislature has found that:
1. The waters of the State are of limited supply and are subject
to ever increasing demands;
2. The continuation of California's economic prosperity is
dependent on the availability of adequate supplies of water for future uses;
3. It is the policy of the State to promote the conservation and
efficient use of water and to prevent the waste of this valuable resource;
4. Landscapes are essential to the quality of life in California by
providing areas for active and passive recreation and as an enhancement to the
environment by cleaning air and water, preventing erosion, offering fire
protection, and replacing ecosystems lost to development;
5. Landscape design, installation, maintenance, and
management can and should be water efficient; and
6. Article X, Section 2 of the California Constitution specifies
that the right to use water is limited to the amount reasonably required for the
beneficial use to be served, and the right does not and shall not extend to waste
or unreasonable method of use of water.
B. The City hereby finds that:
1. Orange County has an established, large reclaimed water
infrastructure system;
2. Allocation -based and tiered water rate structures allow public
agencies to document water use in landscapes;
1
3. Incentive -based water use efficiency programs have been
actively implemented within Orange County since before 1991;
4. Current local design practices in new landscapes typically
achieve the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance water use goals;
5. All water services within the City are metered and billed
based on volume of use;
6. Orange County is a leader in researching and promoting the
use of smart irrigation controllers with more than 12,900 installations as of June
2009 and promotion of sustainable landscape transformation with more than 30
million square feet of turf removal;
7. All new irrigation controllers sold after 2012 within Orange
County will be smart irrigation controllers;
8. Landscape plan submittal and review has been a long
standing practice in Seal Beach;
9. The average rainfall in Orange County is approximately 12
inches per year;
10. The City as the local water purveyor has implemented a
tiered rate billing program and endorses water waste prohibitions for all existing
metered landscaped areas throughout its service area, which includes the City of
Seal Beach in its entirety; and
11. That the City has determined, based upon the written and
oral testimony, that this Ordinance is substantially equivalent to the State Model
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
C. Consistent with these findings, the purpose of the City's Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance is to establish an alternative model acceptable
under Governor Brown's April 1, 2015 Drought Executive Order (B- 19 -25)as
being at least as effective as the State Model Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance in the context of conditions in the City in order to:
1. Promote the benefits of consistent landscape ordinances
with neighboring local and regional agencies;
2. Promote the values and benefits of landscapes while
recognizing the need to invest water and other resources as efficiently as
possible;
3. Establish a structure for planning, designing, installing, and
maintaining and managing water efficient landscapes in new construction and
rehabilitated projects;
2
4. Establish provisions for water management practices and
water waste prevention for existing landscapes;
5. Use water efficiently without waste by setting a Maximum
Applied Water Allowance as an upper limit for water use and reduce water use
to the lowest practical amount; and
6. Encourage the use of economic incentives that promote the
efficient use of water, such as implementing a budget -based tiered -rate structure,
providing rebate incentives and offering educational programs.
§ 9.70.010 Applicability
A. This Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance shall apply to the
following landscape projects:
1. New landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area
equal to or greater than 500 square feet, requiring a building or landscape
permit, plan check or design review;
2. Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate
landscaped area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet, requiring a building
or landscape permit, plan check or design review;
3. New or rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate
landscape area of 2,500 square feet or less may comply with the performance
requirements of this ordinance or conform to the prescriptive measures contained
in Appendix A of the Regulations; and
4. New or rehabilitated projects using treated or untreated
graywater or rainwater capture on site, any lot or parcels within the project that
has less than 2,500 square feet of landscape area and meets the lot or parcel's
landscape water requirement (Estimated Total Water Use) entirely with the
treated or untreated graywater or through stored rainwater captured on site is
subject only to Appendix A of the Regulations.
5. Cemeteries shall comply with the provisions of the
Regulations pertaining to new landscape installations and landscape
rehabilitation projects, including but expressly not limited to, post - installation
irrigation scheduling, post - installation landscape maintenance, water efficient
landscape worksheet, and Landscape Documentation Package.
B. Section 3(b) of the Landscape Water Use Standards of this Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance shall apply to:
1. All landscaped areas installed after January 1, 2010 to which
Section 9.70.010(a) is applicable.
3
C. This Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance does not apply to:
Registered local, state, or federal historical sites;
2. Ecological restoration projects that do not require a
permanent irrigation system; and
3. Plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and
arboretums open to the public.
§ 9.70.015 Implementation Procedures
A. Prior to installation, a Landscape Documentation Package shall be
submitted to the City for review and approval of all landscape projects subject to
the provisions of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Any Landscape
Documentation Package submitted to the City shall comply with the provisions of
the Regulations. The Regulations shall be adopted by resolution of the City
Council and may be revised from time to time to effectuate the authority within
this chapter.
B. The Landscape Documentation Package shall include a
certification by a professional appropriately licensed in the State of California
stating that the landscape design and water use calculations have been prepared
by or under the supervision of the licensed professional and are certified to be in
compliance with the provisions of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and
the Regulations.
1. Landscape and irrigation plans shall be submitted to the City
for review and approval with appropriate water use calculations.
2. Verification of compliance of the landscape installation with
the approved plans shall be obtained through a Certification of Completion in
conjunction with a Certificate of Use and Occupancy or Permit Final process, as
provided in the Regulations.
§ 9.70.020 Landscape Water Use Standards
A. For applicable landscape installation or rehabilitation projects
subject to Section 9.70.010(a) of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, the
Estimated Applied Water Use allowed for the landscaped area shall not exceed
the MAWA calculated using an ET adjustment factor of 0.55 for residential areas
and 0.45 for non - residential areas, except for special landscaped areas where
the MAWA is calculated using an ET adjustment factor of 1.0; or the design of
the landscaped area shall otherwise be shown to be equivalently water - efficient
in a manner acceptable to the City; as provided in the Regulations.
B. Irrigation of all landscaped areas shall be conducted in a manner
conforming to the rules and requirements, and shall be subject to penalties and
L,
incentives for water conservation and water waste prevention as determined and
implemented by the local water purveyor or as mutually agreed by local water
purveyor and the City.
C. Water use calculations shall be consistent with calculations
contained in the Regulations and shall be provided to the local water purveyor,
as appropriate, under procedures determined by the City.
§ 9.70.025 Delegation.
A. The City may delegate to, or enter into a contract with, a local
agency to implement, administer, and /or enforce any of the provisions of the
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance on behalf of the City.
§ 9.70.030 Definitions.
The following definitions are applicable to this chapter:
A. 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.
B. Applied water_: means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation
system to the landscape.
C. 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.
D. Community Aesthetics Evaluation: while not subject to a permit,
plan check or design review, the Community Aesthetics Evaluation may be
performed to ensure the aesthetic standards of the community and irrigation
efficiency intent is maintained.
E. Ecological restoration project: means a project where the site is
intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
F. 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 Regulations. 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.
G. Evapotranspiration adjustment factor or ETAF: 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 Area shall not exceed 1.0. The ETAF for existing non - rehabilitated
landscapes is 0.8.
H. 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.
I. 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 minimum average irrigation
efficiency for purposes of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance is 0.75 for
overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
J. 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 non - irrigated areas designated for non - development (e.g.,
open spaces and existing native vegetation).
K. Landscape contractor: means a person licensed by the State of
California to construct, maintain, repair, install, or subcontract the development of
landscape systems.
L. 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 Regulations.
M. Landscape project: means total area of landscape in a project, as
provided in the definition of "landscaped area," meeting the requirements under
Section 9.70.010 of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
N. Local agency: means a city or county, including a charter city or
charter county, that is authorized by the City to implement, administer, and /or
enforce any of the provisions of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance on
behalf of the City. 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.
G
O. Local water purveyor. means any entity, including a public agency,
city, county, or private water company that provides retail water service.
P. 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 Regulations. 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)]
Q. 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.
R. 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.
S. lion- pervious: means any surface or natural material that does not
allow for the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
T. Pervious: means any surface or material that allows the passage
of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
U. Permit: means an authorizing document issued by local agencies
for new construction or rehabilitated landscape.
V. 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).
W. 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.
X. 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 Regulations, and is an estimate of the evapotranspiration of a
large field of four -to seven -inch tall, cool- season grass that is well watered.
7
Reference evapotranspiration is used as the basis of determining the Maximum
Applied Water Allowances.
Y. Regulations: refers to the Regulations 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.
Z. Rehabilitated landscape: means any re- landscaping project that
meets the applicability criteria of Section 9.70.010(a), where the modified
landscape area is greater than 2,500 square feet.
AA. Smart irrigation controller: means an automatic irrigation controller
utilizing either evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data with non - volatile
memory shall be required for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation systems,
recommending U.S. EPA WaterSense labeled devices as applicable.
BB. 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 areas
dedicated to active play such as parks, sports fields, golf courses, and where tun`
provides a playing surface.
CC. 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.
DD. Valve: means a device used to control the flow of water in an
irrigation system.
EE. 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.
Section 2. Exemption from California Environmental Quality Act. The City
Council hereby determines that this Ordinance is exempt from review under the
California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA ") (California Public Resources
Code Section 21000 et seq.), pursuant to State CEQA Regulation 15307 (14 Cal.
Code Reg. §§ 15307 and 15308as an action taken to assure the maintenance,
restoration, enhancement, or protection of a natural resource where the
regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. This
8
Ordinance is limited to ensuring water efficient landscaping options to preserve
water. There is no evidence to suggest that this Ordinance will result in a
significant impact on the environment, including impacts due to unusual
circumstances. The adoption of this Ordinance includes provisions that will result
in the enhancement and protection of water resources in the City, and will not
result in cumulative adverse environment impacts. As a separate and
independent ground, the City Council finds that this Ordinance is covered by the
general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for
causing a significant effect on the environment. Because it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility that this Ordinance will have a significant
effect on the environment, this Ordinance is not subject to CEQA pursuant to
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). The City Council hereby directs the
City Manager or designee to prepare and file a Notice of Exemption as soon as
possible following adoption of this Ordinance.
Section 3. Severability. If any part of this Ordinance is held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, for any
reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this
Ordinance and this City Council hereby declares that it would have passed the
remainder of this Ordinance if such invalid or unconstitutional portion thereof had
been deleted.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall go into effect and be in full
force and effect thirty (30) days after its final passage and adoption.
Section 5. City Clerk Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption
of this Ordinance and the City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance or a summary
thereof to be published and posted in the manner required by law.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Seal
Beach at a regular meeting held on the day of 2016.
ATTEST:
Robin L. Roberts, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OFSEAL BEACH )
Sandra Massa - Lavitt, Mayor
9
I, Robin Roberts, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, do hereby certify that
foregoing Ordinance No. 1655 was introduced for first reading at a regular
meeting held on the 14th day of March, 2016 and was passed, approved and
adopted by the City Council of the City of Seal Beach at a regular meeting
thereof on the day of , 2016 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Robin L. Roberts, City Clerk
10
Attachment "B"
City of Seal Beach
211 Eighth Street, Seal Beach, CA 90740 • (562) 431 -2527 • www.sealbeachca.gov
REGULATIONS
FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE
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2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section
Pale No.
1. Purpose and Applicability ........................................................ ............................... 1
1.1 Purpose .......................................................................... ....,.........................1
1.2 Applicability ............................................................... ............................... 2
2. Submittal Requirements for New Landscape Installations or Landscape
Rehabilitation Projects ............................................................ ............................... 3
2.2 Elements of the Landscape Documentation Package . ............................... 3
2.3 Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives ........................ 5
2.4 Soil and Stormwater Management .............................. ............................... 7
2.5 Landscape Design Plan ............................................... ............................... 9
2.6 Irrigation Design Plan ............................................... ...............................
12
2.7 Grading Design Plan ................................................. ...............................
17
2.8 Certification of Completion ...................................... ...............................
18
2.9 Post - Installation Irrigation Scheduling ..................... ...............................
19
2.10 Post - Installation Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance .........................
19
3. Provisions for Existing Landscapes ....................................... ...............................
19
4. Public Education ................................................................... ...............................
20
Appendix A: Prescriptive Compliance Option ............................. ............................... 21
Appendix B: Certification of Landscape Design ........................................................ 24
Appendix C: Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet ................... ............................... 25
Appendix D: Reference Evapotranspiration Table ...................... ............................... 27
Appendix E: Certificate of Completion ........................................ ............................... 30
AppendixF: Definitions ............................................................... ............................... 32
Appendix G: Irrigation Plan Checklist ......................................... ............................... 38
Appendix H: Inspection Affidavit ................................................ ............................... 39
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1. Purpose and Applicability
1.1 Purpose
(A) The primary purpose of these Regulations is to provide procedural and design
guidance for project applicants proposing landscape installation or rehabilitation
projects that are subject to the requirements of the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance. This document is also intended for use and reference by City staff in
reviewing and approving designs and verifying compliance with the Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance. The general purpose of the Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance is to promote the design, installation, and maintenance of
landscaping in a manner that conserves regional water resources by ensuring that
landscaping projects are not unduly water -needy and that irrigation systems are
appropriately designed and installed to minimize water waste.
(B) Other regulations affecting landscape design and maintenance practices are
potentially applicable and should be consulted for additional requirements. These
regulations include but may not be limited to:
(1) State of California Assembly Bill 1881;
(2) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit for the Municipal
Separate Storm Sewer System. [Reference: Santa Ana Region Order No.
R8- 2009 -0030 (NPDES No. CAS 618030)];
(3) Orange County Fire Authority Regulations for Fuel Modification in the
Landscape [Reference: OCFA Guideline C -05];
(4) Water Conservation and Drought Response Regulations of the Local
Water Purveyor [Reference: Seal Beach Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter
9.35];
(5) Regulations of the Local Water Purveyor governing use of Recycled Water
[Reference: Seal Beach Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 9.65];
(6) Zoning Code [Reference: Seal Beach Municipal Code, Title 11];
(7) Building Code [Reference: Seal Beach Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter
9.60];
(8) Specific Plans, Master Plans, General Plan, or similar land use and
planning documents; and
(9) Conditions of approval for a specific project
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1.2 Applicability
(A) The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and these Regulations apply to all of
the following landscape projects:
(1) New landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or
greater than 500 square feet, requiring a building or landscape permit,
plan check or design review;
(2) Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal
to or greater than 2,500 square feet, requiring a building or landscape
permit, plan check or design review;
(3) New or rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area
of 2,500 square feet or less may comply with the performance
requirements of this ordinance or conform to the prescriptive measures
contained in Appendix A;
(4) New or rehabilitated projects using treated or untreated graywater or
rainwater capture on site, any lot or parcels within the project that has less
than 2,500 square feet of landscape area and meets the lot or parcel's
landscape water requirement (Estimated Total Water Use) entirely with
the treated or untreated graywater or though stored rainwater capture on
site is subject only to Appendix A Section (5).
(B) The requirements of the Regulations may be partially or wholly waived, at the
discretion of the City or its designee, for landscape rehabilitation projects that are
limited to replacement plantings with equal or lower water needs and where the
irrigation system is found to be designed, operable and programmed consistent
with minimizing water waste in accordance with local water purveyor regulations.
(C) Unless otherwise determined by the City, the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance and these Regulations do not apply to:
(1) Registered local, state, or federal historical sites;
(2) Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation
system;
(3) Mined -land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation
system; or
(4) Plant collections, as part of botanical gardens, and arboretums open to the
public.
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2. Submittal Requirements for New Landscape Installations or Landscape Rehabilitation
Projects
(A) Discretionary approval is typically required for landscape projects that are subject
to site plan reviews, or where a variance from a local building code is requested,
or other procedural processes apply such that standard or special conditions of
approval may be required by the City. Discretionary projects with conditions of
approval may be approved administratively by City staff, or acted on formally by
the Planning Commission, City Council, or other jurisdictional authority. A
typical standard condition of approval reads:
"Landscaping for the project shall be designed to comply with the City's
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and with the Regulations for
Implementation of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. "
Landscape or water features that typically require a ministerial permit (i.e., a
building, plumbing, electrical, or other similar permit), thereby triggering
compliance with the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance requirements
independently of the need for discretionary approval include, but are not limited
to, swimming pools, fountains or ponds, retaining walls, and overhead trellises.
2.2 Elements of the Landscape Documentation Package
(A) A Landscape Documentation Package is required to be submitted by the project
applicant for review and approval prior to the issuance of ministerial permits for
landscape or water features by the City, and prior to start of construction. Unless
otherwise directed by the City, the Landscape Documentation Package shall
include the following elements either on plan sheets or supplemental pages as
directed by the City:
(1) Project Information, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Date;
(b) Project name;
(c) Project address, parcel, and/or lot number(s);
(d) Total landscape area (square feet) and rehabilitated landscape
area (if applicable);
(e) Project type (e.g., new, rehabilitated, public, private, cemetery,
homeowner- installed);
(f) Water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, or well) and
identification of the local retail water purveyor if the project
applicant is not served by a private well;
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(g) Checklist or index of all documents in the Landscape
Documentation Package;
(h) Project contacts, including contact information for the project
applicant and property owner;
(i) Certification of Design in accordance with Exhibit A of these
Regulations that includes a landscape professional's professional
stamp, as applicable, signature, contact information (including
email and telephone number), license number, and date, certifying
the statement that "The design of this project complies with the
requirements of the City's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance"
and shall bear the signature of the landscape professional as
required by law; and
(j) Any other information the City deems relevant for determining
whether the landscape project complies with the Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance and these Regulations.
(2) Maximum Applied Water Allowance (NIAWA) and Estimated Applied
Water Use (EAW0 expressed as annual totals including, but not limited
to, the following:
(a) Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet (optional at discretion of the
City) for the landscape project;
(b) Hydrozone information table (optional at the discretion of the City)
for the landscape project; and
(c) Water budget calculations (optional at the discretion of the City)
for the landscape project.
(3) A soil management report or specifications, or specification provision
requiring soil testing and amendment recommendations and
implementation to be accomplished during construction of the landscape
project.
(4) A landscape design plan for the landscape project.
(5) An irrigation design plan for the landscape project.
(6) A grading design plan, unless grading information is included in the
landscape design plan for the landscape project or unless the landscape
project is limited to replacement planting and /or irrigation to rehabilitate
an existing landscape area.
M
2.3 Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives
(A) The project applicant shall provide the calculated Maximum Applied Water
Allowance (MAWA) and Estimated Applied Water Use (EAWU) for the
landscape area as part of the Landscape Documentation Package submittal to the
City. The MAWA and EAWU shall be calculated based on completing the Water
Efficient Landscape Worksheets (in accordance with the sample worksheets in
Appendix C) which contain information on the plant factor, irrigation method,
irrigation efficiency and area associated with each hydrozone. Calculations are
then made to show that the evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF) for the
landscape project does not exceed a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45
for non - residential areas, exclusive of Special Landscape Areas. The ETAF for a
landscape project is based on the plant factors and irrigation methods selected.
The Maximum Applied Water Allowance is calculated based on the maximum
ETAF allowed (0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non - residential areas) and
expressed as annual gallons required. The EAWU is calculated based on the
plants used and irrigation method selected for the landscape design.
(B) The EAWU allowable for the landscape area shall not exceed the MAWA. The
MAWA shall be calculated using an evapotranspiration adjustment factor
(ETAF) of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non - residential areas, except for
the portion of the MAWA applicable to any Special Landscape Areas within the
landscape project, which shall be calculated using an ETAF of 1.0. Where the
design of the landscape area can otherwise be shown to be equivalently water -
efficient, the project applicant may submit alternative or abbreviated information
supporting the demonstration that the annual EAWU is less than the MAWA, at
the discretion of and for the review and approval of the local agency.
(C) Water budget calculations shall adhere to the following requirements:
(1) The MAWA shall be calculated using the Water Efficient Landscape
Worksheets and equation presented in Appendix C.
(2) The EAWU shall be calculated using the Water Efficient Landscape
Worksheet and equations presented in Appendix C.
(3) For the calculation of the MAWA and EAWU, a project applicant shall use
the ETo values from the closest location listed the Reference
Evapotranspiration Table in Appendix D. For geographic areas not
covered in Appendix D, data from other cities, or zip codes, located
nearby in the same reference evapotranspiration zone may be used.
(4) For calculation of the EAWU, the plant water use factor shall be
determined as appropriate to the project location from the Water Use
Efficiency of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) Species Evaluation List or
from horticultural researchers with academic institutions or professional
associations as approved by the California Department of water Resources
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(DWR). The plant factor ranges from 0 to 0.1 for very low water use
plants, 0.1 to 0.3 for low water use plants, 0.4 to 0.6 for moderate water
use plants, and 0.7 to 1.0 for high water use plants.
(5) For calculating the EAWU, the plant water use factor shall be determined
for each valve hydrozone based on the highest- water -use plant species
within the zone. The plant factor for each hydrozone may be required to
be further refined as a "landscape coefficient," according to protocols
defined in detail in the WUCOLS document, to reflect planting density and
microclimate effects on water need at the option of the project applicant
or the City.
(6) For calculation of the EAWU, the area of a water feature shall be defined
as a high water use hydrozone with a plant factor of 1.0.
(7) For calculation of the EAWU, a temporarily irrigated hydrozone area, such
as an area of highly drought - tolerant native plants that are not intended to
be irrigated after they are fully established, shall be defined as a very low
water use hydrozone with a plant factor of 0.1.
(8) For calculation of the MA WA, the ETAF for Special Landscape Areas
(SLA) shall be set at 1.0. For calculation of the EAWU, the ETAF for SLA
shall be calculated as the SLA plant factor divided by the SLA irrigation
efficiency factor.
(9) Irrigation efficiency (IE) of the irrigation heads used within each
hydrozone shall be assumed to be as follows, unless otherwise indicated
by the irrigation equipment manufacturer's specifications or demonstrated
by the project applicant:
Irrigation Method
DULQ
DULH*
EU
IE **
Spray nozzles
65%
79%
71%
High efficiency spray nozzles
70%
82%
73%
Multi stream/Multi trajectory
rota (MSMT) nozzles
75%
85%
76%
Stream rotor nozzle
70%
82%
73%
Microspray
75%
1 85%
76%
Bubblers
85%
77%
Drip emitter
90%
81%
Subsurface drip
90%
1 81%
*DULH = .386 + (.614)(DULQ)
* * IE (spray) _ (DULH)(IME)
** IE (drip) = Emission uniformity (EU)(IME)
(D) The Maximum Applied Water Allowance shall adhere to the following
requirements:
G•.
(1) The Maximum Applied Water Allowance shall be calculated using the
equation presented in Appendix C. The reference evapotranspiration
(ETo) values used for this calculation are from the Reference
Evapotranspiration Table in Appendix D and are for planning purposes
only. For actual irrigation scheduling, automatic irrigation controllers are
required and shall use current ETo data, such as from the California
Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS), other equivalent
data, or soil moisture sensor data.
2.4 Soil and Stormwater Management
(A) All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize retention
and infiltration. On engineered slopes, only amended planting holes need meet
this requirement.
(B) In order to reduce runoff and encourage healthy plant growth, a soil management
report shall be completed by the project applicant, or his/her designee, as follows:
(1) Submit soil samples to a certified agronomic soils laboratory for analysis
and recommendations.
(a) Soil sampling shall be conducted in accordance with laboratory
protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth
for the intended plants.
(b) The soil analysis may include, but is not limited to:
1. soil texture;
2. infiltration rate determined by laboratory test or soil texture
infiltration rate table;
3. pH;
4. total soluble salts;
5. sodium;
6. percent organic matter; and
7. recommendations.
(2) In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e. production home
developments or common interest developments that are installing
landscaping) a soil sampling rate of 1 in 7 lots or approximately 15% will
satisfy this requirement; evenly disbursed throughout the development.
Large landscape projects shall sample at a rate equivalent to 1 in 7 lots or
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approximately 15% landscape area. The project applicant, or his/her
designee, shall comply with one of the following:
(a) If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil analysis report
shall be submitted to the local agency as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package; or
(b) If significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall
be submitted to the City as part of the Certification of Completion.
(c) The soil analysis report shall be made available, in a timely
manner, to the professionals preparing the landscape design plans
and irrigation design plans in order to make any necessary
adjustments to the design plans.
(d) The project applicant, or his /her designee, shall submit
documentation verifying implementation of soil analysis report
recommendations to the local agency with the Certification of
Completion.
(C) It is strongly recommended that landscape areas be designed for capture and
infiltration capacity that is sufficient to prevent runoff from impervious surfaces
(i.e. roof and paved areas) from additional capacity as required by any applicable
local, regional, state, or federal regulation and/or one of the following: the one
inch, 24 -hour rain event or the 85th percentile, 24 -hour rain event.
[Reference: Santa Ana Region Order No. R8- 2009 -0030, NPDES No. CAS
618030]
(D) It is recommended that storm water projects incorporate any of the following
elements to improve on -site stormwater and dry weather runoff capture and use:
(1) Grade impervious surfaces, such as driveways, during construction to
drain into vegetated areas.
(2) Minimize the area of impervious surfaces such as paved areas, roof, and
concrete driveways.
(3) Incorporate pervious or porous surfaces (e.g. gravel, permeable pavers or
blocks, pervious or porous concrete) that minimize runoff.
(4) Direct runoff from paved surfaces and roof areas into planting beds or
landscape areas to maximize site water capture and reuse.
(5) Incorporate rain gardens, cisterns, and other rain harvesting or catchment
systems.
E:3
(6) Incorporate infiltration beds, swales, basins, and drywells to capture
stormwater and dry weather runoff and increase percolation into the soil.
(7) Consider constructed wetlands and ponds that retain water, equalize
excess flow, and filter pollutants.
2.5 Landscape Design Plan
(A) For the efficient use of water, a landscape shall be carefully designed and planned
for the intended function of the project. The following design criteria shall be
submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.
(1) Plant Material
(a) Any plant may be selected for the landscape area provided the
EAWU in the landscape area does not exceed the MA WA. Methods
to achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the
following:
(2) Protection and preservation of non - invasive water - conserving plant, tree
and turf species;
(3) Selection of water - conserving plant, tree and turf species;
(4) Selection of plants based on local climate suitability, disease and pest
resistance;
(5) Selection of trees based on applicable City and local tree ordinances or
tree shading guidelines, and size at maturity as appropriate for the planting
area; and
(6) Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program plant lists.
(7) Selection of plants from local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines.
(B) Each hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use; with the
exception of hydrozones with plants of mixed water use, as specified in Section
2.6(a)(2)(D) of these Regulations.
(C) Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to
the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the project site. Methods to
achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the following:
(1) Use the Sunset Western Climate Zone System, or equivalent generally
accepted models, which takes into account temperature, humidity,
elevation, terrain, latitude, and varying degrees of continental and marine
influence on local climate;
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(2) Recognize the horticultural attributes of plants (i.e., mature plant size,
invasive surface roots) to minimize damage to property or infrastructure
(e.g., buildings, sidewalks, and power lines); allow for adequate soil
volume for healthy root growth and
(3) Consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer
shade and winter solar gain.
(D) Turf is discouraged on slopes greater than 25% where the toe of the slope is
adjacent to an impermeable hardscape and where 25% means 1 foot of vertical
elevation change for every 4 feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 =
slope percent).
(E) High water use plants, characterized by a plant factor of 0.7 to 1.0, are prohibited
in street medians.
(F) A landscape design plan for projects in fire -prone areas and fuel modification
zones shall comply with requirements of the local Fire Authority, where
applicable. Refer to the local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines. When conflicts
between water conservation and fire safety design elements exist, the fire safety
requirements shall have priority.
[Reference: Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 9.60.120]
(G) The use of invasive plant species plant species, such as those listed by the
California Invasive Plat Council, is strongly discouraged.
(H) The architectural guidelines of a common interest development, which include
community apartment projects, condominiums, planned developments, and stock
cooperatives, shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of
prohibiting the use of water efficient plant species as a group.
(1) Water Features
(a) Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.
(b) Where available and consistent with public health guidelines,
recycled water shall be used as a source for decorative water
features.
(c) The surface area of a water feature shall be included in the high
water use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.
(d) Pool and spa covers are highly recommended.
(2) Soil Preparation, Mulch and Amendments
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(a) Prior to planting of any materials, compacted soils shall be
transformed to a friable condition. On engineered slopes, only
amended planting holes need to meet this requirement.
(b) Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to the
recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for
plants selected.
(c) For landscape installations, compost at a rate of a minimum of four
cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area shall be
incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil. Soils with
greater than 6% organic matter in the top 6 inches of soil are
exempt from adding compost and tilling.
(d) A minimum three inch (Y) layer of mulch shall be applied on all
exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas,
creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications
where mulch is contraindicated. To provide habitat for beneficial
insects and other wildlife, up to 5% of the landscape area may be
left without mulch. Designated insect habitat must be included in
the landscape design plan as such.
(e) Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes that meet
current engineering standards such as those detailed in the
USDA/USAID Low - Volume Roads Engineering Best
Management Practices Field Guide.
(f) The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro- seeded
applications shall meet the mulching requirement.
(g) Organic mulch materials made from recycled or post - consumer
shall take precedence over inorganic materials or virgin forest
products unless the recycled post- consumer organic products are
not locally available. Organic mulches are not required where
prohibited by local fuel Modification Plan Guidelines or other
applicable local ordinances.
(I) The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall:
(1) Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter, or other method;
(2) Identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed water use.
Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape area shall be included in the
low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation;
(3) Identify recreational areas;
(4) Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants;
11
(5) Identify areas irrigated with recycled water;
(6) Identify type of mulch and application depth;
(7) Identify soil amendments, type, and quantity;
(8) Identify type and surface area of water features;
(9) Identify hardscapes (pervious and non pervious);
(10) Identify location and installation details, and 24 -hour retention or
infiltration capacity of any applicable storm water best management
practices that encourage on -site retention and infiltration of storm water.
Project applicants shall refer to the local agency or regional Water Quality
Control Board for information on any applicable stormwater technical
requirements. Storm water best management practices are encouraged in
the landscape design plan and examples are provided in Section 2.4(C).
(11) Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies (e.g.,
rain gardens, cisterns, etc.);
(12) Contain the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and applied them for the efficient
use of water in the landscape design plan;" and
(13) Bear the signature of a California - licensed landscape professional.
2.6 Irrigation Design Plan
(A) This section applies to landscape areas requiring permanent irrigation, not areas
that require temporary irrigation solely for the plant establishment period. For the
efficient use of water, an irrigation system shall meet all the requirements listed in
this section and the manufacturer's recommendations. The irrigation system and
its related components shall be planned and designed to allow for proper
installation, management, and maintenance. An irrigation design plan meeting the
following design criteria shall be submitted as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package.
(1) System
(a) Landscape water meters, defined as either a dedicated water
service meter or private sub meter, shall be installed for all non-
residential irrigated landscapes of 1,000 sq. ft. but not more than
5,000 sq. ft. (the level at which Water Code 535 applies) and
residential irrigated landscapes of 5,000 sq. ft. or greater. A
landscape water meter may be either:
12
1. A customer service meter dedicated to landscape use provided
by the local water purveyor; or
2. A privately owned meter or sub meter.
(b) Automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration
or soil moisture sensor data with non - volatile memory shall be
required for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation systems,
recommending U.S. EPA WaterSense labeled devices as
applicable.
(c) Sensors (rain, freeze, wind, etc.), either integral or auxiliary, that
suspend or alter irrigation operation during unfavorable weather
conditions shall be required on all irrigation systems, as
appropriate for local climatic conditions. Irrigation should be
avoided during windy or freezing weather or during rain.
(d) If the water pressure is below or exceeds the recommended
pressure of the specified irrigation devices, the installation of a
pressure regulating device is required to ensure that the dynamic
pressure at each emission device is within the manufacturer's
recommended pressure range for optimal performance.
1. If the static pressure is above or below the required dynamic
pressure of the irrigation system, pressure- regulating devices
such as inline pressure regulators, booster pumps, or other
devices shall be installed to meet the required dynamic
pressure of the irrigation system.
2. Static water pressure, dynamic or operating pressure, and flow
reading of the water supply shall be measured at the point of
connection. These pressure and flow measurements shall be
conducted at the design stage. If the measurements are not
available at the design stage, the measurements shall be
conducted at installation.
(e) Backjlow prevention devices shall be required to protect the water
supply from contamination by the irrigation system. A project
applicant shall refer to the applicable City code (i.e., public health)
for additional backflow prevention requirements.
(f) A master shutoff valve shall be as close as possible to the point of
connection and is required on all projects; with the exception for
landscapes that make use of technologies that allow for the
individual control of sprinklers that are individually pressurized in
a system equipped with low pressure shut down features.
13
(g) Flow sensors that detect high flow conditions created by system
damage or malfunction are required for all non - residential
landscapes and residential landscapes of 5,000 sq. ft. or larger. The
flow sensor must be in combination with a master shut -off valve.
(h) Manual isolation valves (such as a gate valve, ball valve, or
butterfly valve) shall be required downstream of the point of
connection of the water supply to minimize water loss in case of an
emergency (such as a main line break) or routine repair.
(i) The irrigation system shall be designed to prevent runoff, low head
drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where irrigation
water flows onto non - targeted areas, such as adjacent property,
non - irrigated areas, hardscapes, roadways, or structures.
(j) Relevant information from the soil management plan, such as soil
type and infiltration rate, shall be utilized when designing
irrigation systems.
(k) The design of the irrigation system shall conform to the
hydrozones of the landscape design plan.
(1) All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard,
American Society of Agricultural and Biological
Engineers' /International Code Council's (ASABE /ICC) 802 -2014
"Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard, All
Sprinkler heads installed in the landscape must document a
distribution uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using the
protocol defined in ASBE /ICC 802 -2014.
(m) Average irrigation efficiency (IE) for the project shall be
determined in accordance with the EAWU calculation sheet in
Appendix C. Unless otherwise indicated by the irrigation
equipment manufacturer's specifications or demonstrated by the
project applicant, the irrigation efficiency of the irrigation heads
used within each hydrozone shall as listed in Section 2.3(C)(9).
(n) It is highly recommended that the project applicant or local agency
inquire with the local water purveyor about peak water operating
demands (on the water supply system) or water restrictions that
may impact the effectiveness of the irrigation system.
(o) In mulched planting areas, the use of low volume irrigation (drip
or low volume overhead irrigation) is required to maximize water
infiltration into the root zone; with the exception of areas with fuel
modification requirements and /or those that require plant
establishment to comply with local grading ordinances.
14
(p) Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall have matched
precipitation rates, unless otherwise directed by the
manufacturer's recommendations.
(q) Head to head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler
spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible
distribution uniformity using the manufacturer's recommendations.
(r) Swing joint components are required on all sprinklers subject to
damage that are adjacent to hardscapes or in high traffic areas of
turf.
(s) Check valves or anti -drain valves are required on all sprinkler
heads where low point drainage could occur.
(t) Areas less than ten (10) feet in width in any direction shall be
irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no
runoff or overspray.
(u) Overhead irrigation shall not be permitted within 24 inches of any
non - permeable surface. Allowable irrigation within the setback
from non - permeable surfaces may include drip, drip line, or other
low flow non -spray technology. The setback area may be planted
or unplanted. The surfacing of the setback may be mulch, gravel,
or other porous material. These restrictions may be modified if-
1. the landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no
runoff occurs; or
2. the adjacent non - permeable surfaces are designed and
constructed to drain entirely to landscaping; or
3. the irrigation designer for the landscape project specifies an
alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package, and clearly demonstrates strict
adherence to the irrigation system design criteria in Section 2.G
(A)(1) hereof. Prevention of overspray and runoff must be
confirmed during an irrigation audit.
4. slopes greater than 25% shall not be irrigated with an irrigation
system with a application rate exceeding 0.75 inches per hour.
This restriction may be modified if the landscape designer of
the landscape project specifies an alternative design or
technology, as part of the Landscape Documentation Package,
and clearly demonstrates no runoff or erosion will occur.
Prevention of runoff and erosion must be confirmed during the
gH0 AN, AW vaV v R§ YBnHydrozone
15
(2) Hydrozone
(a) Each valve shall irrigate a hydrozone with similar site, slope, sun
exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water
use.
(b) Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall be selected based
on what is appropriate for the plant type within that hydrozone.
(c) Where feasible, trees shall be placed on separate valves from
shrubs, groundcovers, and turf to facilitate the appropriate
irrigation of trees. The mature size and extent of the root zone
shall be considered when designing irrigation for the tree.
(d) Individual hydrozones that mix plants of moderate and low water
use or moderate and high water use may be allowed if:
1. The plant factor calculation is based on the proportions of the
respective plant water uses and their respective plant factors;
or
2. The plant factor of the higher water using plant is used for the
calculations.
(e) Individual hydrozones that mix high and low water use plants shall
not be permitted.
(f) On the landscape design plan and irrigation design plan, hydrozone
areas shall be designated by number, letter, or other designation.
On the irrigation design plan, designate the areas irrigated by each
valve and assign a number to each valve.
(g) The irrigation design plan, at a minimum, shall contain:
1. the location and size of separate water meters for landscape;
2. the location, type, and size of all components of the irrigation
system, including controllers, main and lateral lines, valves,
sprinkler heads, moisture sensing devices, rain switches, quick
couplers, pressure regulators, and backflow prevention devices;
3. static water pressure at the point of connection to the public
water supply;
4. flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per
hour), and design operating pressure (pressure per square inch)
for each station;
16
5. irrigation schedule parameters necessary to program smart
timers specified in the landscape design;
6. the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of
the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and applied them
accordingly for the efficient use of water in the irrigation
design plan;" and
7. the signature of a California - licensed landscape professional.
2.7 Grading Design Plan
(A) For the efficient use of water, grading of a landscape project site shall be designed
to minimize soil erosion, runoff, and water waste. Finished grading configuration
of the landscape area, including pads, slopes, drainage, post - construction erosion
control, and storm water control Best Management Practices, as applicable, shall
be shown on the Landscape Plan unless this information is fully included in
separate Grading Plans for the project, or unless the project is limited to
replacement planting and /or irrigation to rehabilitate an existing landscape area.
(B) The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished
configurations and elevations of the landscape area including:
(1) Height of graded slopes;
(2) Drainage patterns;
(3) Pad elevations;
(4) Finish grade; and
(5) Storm water retention improvements, if applicable.
(C) To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, it is highly recommended that the
project applicant:
(1) Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within property
lines and does not drain on to non - permeable hardscapes;
(2) Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil; and
(3) Avoid soil compaction in landscape areas.
(D) The Grading Design Plan shall contain the following statement: "I have complied
with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them accordingly for the efficient
use of water in the grading design plan" and shall bear the signature of the
landscape professional, as required bylaw.
17
2.8 Certification of Completion
(A) Landscape project installation shall not proceed until the Landscape
Documentation Package has been approved by the City and any ministerial
permits required are issued.
(B) The project applicant shall notify the City at the beginning of the installation
work and at intervals, as necessary, for the duration of the landscape project work
to schedule all required inspections.
(C) Certification of Completion of the landscape project shall be obtained through a
Certificate of Use and Occupancy or a Permit Final. The requirements for the
Final Inspection and Permit Closure include submittal of:
(1) A Landscape Installation Certificate of Completion in the form included as
Appendix E of these Regulations, which shall include: (i) certification by
a landscape professional that the landscape project has been installed per
the approved Landscape Documentation Package; and (ii) the following
statement: "The landscaping has been installed in substantial conformance
to the design plans, and complies with the provisions of the Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance for the efficient use of water in the
landscape."
(a) Where there have been significant changes (as deemed by the local
permitting agency) made in the field during construction, these
"as- built" or record drawings shall be included with the certificate
(b) A diagram of the irrigation plan showing hydrozones shall be kept
with the irrigation controller for subsequent management purposes.
(2) Documentation of the irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the
controller(s);
(3) An irrigation audit report from a local agency landscape irrigation auditor
or third party certified landscape irrigation auditor, documentation of
enrollment in regional or local water purveyor's water conservation
programs, and /or documentation that the MAWA and EAWU information
for the landscape project has been submitted to the local water purveyor,
may be required at the option of the City. Example Inspection Affidavit is
included as Appendix H.
(a) Landscape audits shall not be conducted by the person who
designed or installed the landscape.
(b) In large projects or projects with multiple landscape installations
(i.e. production home developments or common interest
18
developments) an auditing rate of 1 in 7 lots or approximately 15%
will satisfy this requirement.
2.9 Post - Installation Irrigation Scheduling
(A) For the efficient use of water, all irrigation schedules shall be developed,
managed, and evaluated to utilize the minimum amount of water required to
maintain plant health. Irrigation schedules shall meet the following criteria:
(1) Irrigation scheduling shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers.
(2) Overhead irrigation shall be scheduled in accordance with the local water
purveyor's Water Conservation Ordinance. Operation of the irrigation
system outside the normal watering window is allowed for auditing and
system maintenance.
2.10 Post - Installation Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance
(A) Landscapes shall be maintained to ensure water use efficiency in accordance with
existing local agency code.
[Reference: Seal Beach Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 9.70.015]
3. Provisions for Existing Landscapes
(A) Irrigation of all landscape areas shall be conducted in a manner conforming to the
rules and requirements and shall be subject to penalties and incentives for water
conservation and water waste prevention, as determined and implemented by the
local water purveyor and as may be mutually agreed by the City.
(B) The City and /or the regional or local water purveyor may administer programs
such as irrigation water use analyses, irrigation surveys and /or irrigation audits,
tiered water rate structures, water budgeting by parcel, or other approaches to
achieve landscape water use efficiency community -wide to a level equivalent to
or less than would be achieved by applying a A,1_4 WA calculated with an ETAF of
0.8 to all landscape areas in the City over one acre in size.
(C) The architectural guidelines of a common interest development, including
apartments, condominiums, planned developments, and stock cooperatives, shall
not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of
low -water use plants as a group.
19
4. Public Education
(A) Publications. Education is a critical component to promote the efficient use of
water in landscapes. The use of appropriate principles of design, installation,
management, and maintenance that save water is encouraged in the community.
(B) Model Homes. All model homes that are landscaped shall use signs and written
information to demonstrate the principles of water efficient landscapes as
described.
(1) Signs shall be used to identify the model as an example of a water efficient
landscape featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment,
and others that contribute to the overall water efficient theme. Signage
shall include information about the site water use as designed per the local
ordinance; specify who designed and installed the site water efficient
landscape; and demonstrate low water use approaches to landscaping such
as using appropriate plants, alternative water sources, or rainwater
catchment systems.
(2) Information shall be provided about designing, installing, managing, and
maintaining water efficient landscapes.
20
Appendix A: Prescriptive Compliance Option
PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE OPTION
(A) This appendix contains prescriptive requirements which may be used as a
compliance option to the Ordinance.
(B) Compliance with the following items is mandatory and must be documented in a
landscape plan in order to use the prescriptive compliance option:
(1) Submit a Landscape Documentation Package which includes the
following elements:
(a) Date
(b) Project applicant
(c) Project address (if available, parcel and /or lot number (s))
(d) Total landscape area (square feet), including a breakdown of turf
and plant material
(e) Project type (e.g., new, rehabilitated, public, private, cemetery,
homeowner- installed)
(f) Water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, well) and identify the
local retail water purveyor if the applicant is not served by a
private well
(g) Contact information for the project applicant and property owner
(h) Applicant signature and date with statement, "I agree to comply
with the requirements of the prescriptive compliance option to the
MWELO"
(2) Incorporate compost at a rate of at least four cubic yards per 1,000 square
feet to a depth of six inches into landscape area (unless contra - indicated by
a soil test);
(3) Plant material shall comply with all of the following:
(a) For residential areas, install climate adapted plants that require
occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plan
factor 0.3) for 75% of the plant area excluding edibles and areas
using recycled water; For non - residential areas, install climate
adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water
21
(average WUCOLS plan factor 0.3) for 100% of the plant area
excluding edibles and areas using recycled water;
(b) A minimum three inch (3") layer of mulch shall be applied on all
exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas,
creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications
where mulch is contraindicated.
(4) Turf shall comply with all of the following:
(a) Turf shall not exceed 25% of the landscape area in residential
areas, and turf shall not be planted in non - residential areas
(b) Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a slope of 1
foot vertical elevation change for every 4 feet of horizontal length;
(c) Turf is prohibited in parkways less than 10 feet wide, unless the
parkway is adjacent to a parking strip and used to enter and exit
vehicles. Any turf in parkways must be irrigated by sub - surface
irrigation, or by other technology that creates no overspray or
runoff.
(5) Irrigation systems shall comply with the following:
(a) Automatic irrigation controllers are required and must use
evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data
(b) Irrigation controllers shall be of a type which does not lose
programming data in the event the primary power source is
interrupted.
(c) Pressure regulators shall be installed on the irrigation system to
ensure the dynamic pressure of the system is within the
manufacturers recommended pressure range.
(d) Manual shut -off valves (such as a gate valve, ball valve, or
butterfly valve) shall be installed as close as possible to the point
of connection of the water supply.
(e) All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in
the ANSI standard, ASABE /ICC802 -2014. "Landscape irrigation
Sprinkler and Emitter Standard." All Sprinkler heads installed in
the landscape must document a distribution uniformity low quarter
of 0.65 or higher using the protocol defined in ASABE /ICC 802-
2014.
Fla
(C) At the time of final inspection, the permit applicant must provide the owner of the
property with a certificate of completion, certificate of installation, irrigation
schedule and a schedule of landscape and irrigation maintenance.
23
Appendix B: Certification of Landscape Design
CERTIFICATION OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
I hereby certify that:
(1) I am a professional appropriately licensed in the State of California to provide
professional landscape design services.
(2) The landscape design and water use calculations for the property located at
(provide street address or parcel number(s)) were prepared by me or under my supervision.
(3) The landscape design and water use calculations for the identified property comply with
the requirements of the City of Seal Beach Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Municipal
Code Section 9.70) and the City of Seal Beach for Implementation of the City of Seal Beach
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
(4) The information I have provided in this Certificate of Landscape Design is true and
correct and is hereby submitted in compliance with the City of Seal Beach Regulations for
Implementation of the City of Seal Beach Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
Print Name
Signature
Address
Telephone
Landscape Design Professional's Stamp
24
Date
License Number
E -mail Address
Appendix C: Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE WORKSHEET
This worksheet is filled out by the project applicant and it is a required item of the Landscape Documentation Package.
Landscape Area Sector Type [ ] Residential
Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo)a: (select one): [ ] Non - Residential
Estimated
Hydrozone Plant Irrigation Total Water
# /Planting Factor Irrigation Efficiency` ETAF Landscape Used
Description Location (PF) Method` (I E) (PF /IE) Area (sq -ft) LETAFx (ETWU)
Reaular Landscape Area
1
SLA -2
2
SLA -3
SLA -4
3
SLA -5
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Average Total Total
Average ETAF for Regular In Not In
Landscape Arease (circle one): Compliance Compliance
Special Landscape Area
SLA -1
SLA -2
SLA -3
SLA -4
SLA -5
Totals
Total Landscape Area
Site wide ETAF
ETWU Total
Maximum Allowed Water Allowance (MAWA)f
25
WORKSHEET INFORMATION & EQUATIONS
'Local monthly evapotranspiration rates are listed in Appendix D.
b The following table can be used for common plant factors:
Plant Factor
PF
Very low water use plant
0.1
Low water use plant
0.2
Medium water use plant
0.5
High water use plant
0.8
Lawn
0.8
Pool, spa, or other water feature
1.0
° Irrigation efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates of irrigation system
characteristics and management practices. The minimum average irrigation efficiency for
purposes of these Regulations is 0.71. The following irrigation efficiency may be obtained for
the listed irrigation heads with an Irrigation Management Efficiency of 90 %:
Irrigation-Method
IE
Spray nozzles
71%
High efficiency spray nozzles
73%
Multi stream/Multi trajectory
rotary (MSMT) nozzles
76%
Stream rotor nozzle
73%
Microspray
76%
Bubblers
77%
Drip emitter
81%
Subsurface drip
81%
a Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) is the annual gallons required
ETWU = (ETo) x (0.62) x (ETAF x Area)
where, ETo = annual evapotranspiration rate in inches per year
0.62 = factor used to convert inches per year to gallons per square foot
ETAF = plant factor - irrigation efficiency
Average ETAF for Regular Landscape Areas must be 0.55 or below for residential areas, and
0.45 or below for nonresidential areas.
f Maximum Allowed Water Allowance (MAWA) is the annual gallons allowed
MAWA = (ETo) x (0.62) x [(ETAF x LA) + ((1 -ETAF) x SLA)]
where, ETo = annual evapotranspiration rate in inches per year
0.62 = factor used to convert inches per year to gallons per square foot
ETAF = plant factor - irrigation efficiency
LA = total (site wide) landscape area in square feet
SLA = total special landscape area
26
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Appendix E: Certificate of Completion
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
I hereby certify that:
(1) I am a professional appropriately
professional landscape design
licensed in the State of California to provide
services for:
(project name, mailing address and telephone).
(2) The landscape project for the property located at
(provide street address or parcel
number(s)) was installed by me or under my supervision.
(3) The landscaping for the identified property has been installed in substantial conformance
with the approved Landscape Documentation Package and complies with the requirements of the
City of Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Municipal Code
Sections ) and the City of Regulations
for Implementation of the City of Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance for the efficient use of water in the landscape.
(4) The following elements are attached hereto:
a. Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller;
b. Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule;
c. Irrigation audit report; and
d. Soil analysis report, if not submitted with Landscape Documentation Package, and
documentation verifying implementation of the soil report recommendations.
(5) The site installation complies with the following:
a. The required irrigation system has been installed according to approved plans and
specifications and if applicable, any prior approved irrigation system alternatives.
Yes No
b. Sprinklers comply with ASABE /ICC 802 -2014 Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler &
Emitter Standard.
Yes No
(6) The information I have provided in this Landscape Installation Certificate of Completion
is true and correct and is hereby submitted in compliance with the City of
Regulations for Implementation of the City of Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance.
30
Print Name
Signature
Address
Date
License Number
Telephone E -mail Address
Landscape Design Professional's Stamp
(If Appropriate)
31
Appendix F: Definitions
DEFINITIONS
The terms used in these Regulations have the meaning set forth below:
"Aggregate " area pertains to production home neighborhoods, common interest developments,
or other situations where multiple parcels are undergoing landscape development as one project,
but may eventually be individually owned or maintained.
"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.
"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.
"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 US Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation auditor
certification program and Irrigation Association's Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor
program.
"Certification of Design" means the certification included as Exhibit E of these Regulations that
must be included in the Landscape Documentation Package pursuant to Section 2.1 of these
Regulations.
"City" means the City of
or its authorized designee.
"Common interest developments" means community apartment projects, condominium projects,
planned developments, and stock cooperatives per Civil Code Section 1351
"Distribution Uniformity" or "DU" is a measure of how uniformly an irrigation head applies
water to a specific target area and theoretically ranges form zero to 100 percent.
"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.
"Emitter" means a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly from the system to
the soil.
"Estimated Applied Water Use" or "EAWU' means the annual total amount of water estimated to
keep plants in a healthy state. It is based on factors such as reference evapotranspiration rate, the
size of the landscape area, plant water use factors, and the irrigation efficiency within each
hydrozone.
32
"Evapotranspiration adjustment factor" or "ETAF" 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
Area shall not exceed 1.0. The ETAF for existing non - rehabilitated landscapes is 0.8.
"Evapotranspiration rate" means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other
surfaces and transpired by plants during a specified time.
"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.
" Hardscapes" means any durable material or feature (pervious and non pervious) installed in or
around a landscape area, such as pavements or walls. Pools and other water features are
considered part of the landscape area and not considered hardscapes for purposes of these
Regulations.
"Graywater" means a system intreated 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 unhealthy 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 as per the Health and Safety Code (Section
17922.12). Graywater systems promote the efficient use of water and are encouraged to assist in
on -site landscape irrigation. All graywater systems shall conform to the California Plumbing
Code (Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 16) and any applicable local ordinance standards.
"Hydrozone" means a portion of the landscape area having plants with similar water needs and
typically irrigated by one valve /controller station. A hydrozone may be irrigated or non-
irrigated.
"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 " plants species or "noxious" means species of plants not historically found in
California that spread outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or economic
resources. Invasive plant species may be regulated by county agricultural agencies as noxious
species.
"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.
"Irrigation Management Efficiency" or "IME" means the measurement used to calculate the
irrigation efficiency of the irrigation system for a landscaped project. A 90% IME can be
33
achieved by using evaportranspiration controllers, soil moisture sensors, and other methods that
will adjust irrigation run times to meet plant water needs.
"Irrigation efficiency" or "IE" means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially used
divided by the amount of water applied to a landscape area. Irrigation efficiency is derived from
measurements and estimates of irrigation system characteristics and management practices. The
minimum average irrigation efficiency for purposes of these Regulations is 0.71. Greater
irrigation efficiency can be expected from well designed and maintained systems. The following
irrigation efficiency may be obtained for the listed irrigation heads with an IME of 90 %:
Irrigation Method
DULO
DULn*
EU
IE **
Spray nozzles
65%
79%
71%
High efficiency spray nozzles
70%
82%
73%
Multi stream/Multi trajectory
rot MSMT) nozzles
75%
85%
76%
Stream rotor nozzle
70%
82%
73%
Microspray
75%
85%
76%
Bubblers
85%
77%
Drip emitter
90%
81%
Subsurface drip
90%
81%
*DULH =.386 + (.614)(DULQ
** IE (spray) = (DULAIME)
** IE (drip) = Emission uniformity (EU)(IME)
"Landscape coefficient" (KL ) is the product of a plant factor multiplied by a density factor and a
microclimate factor. The landscape coefficient is derived to estimate water loss from irrigated
landscape areas and special landscape areas.
"Landscape Documentation Package" means the package of documents that a project applicant
is required to submit to the City pursuant to Section 2.1 of these Regulations.
"Landscape Installation Certificate of Completion" means the certificate included as Exhibit F
of these Regulations that must be submitted to the City pursuant to Section 23(a)(1) of hereof.
"Landscape professional" means a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor,
or any other person authorized to design a landscape pursuant to Sections 5500.1, 5615, 5641,
5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701, 7027.5 of the California Business and
Professions Code, Section 832.27 of Title16 of the California Code of Regulations, and Section
6721 of the California Food and Agriculture Code.
"Landscape 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 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).
34
"Lateral line" means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or sprinklers
from the valve.
"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 volume overhead irrigation " means aboveground irrigation heads with an upper flow limit
of 0.5 GPM.
"Main line" means the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the water source to the valve
or outlet.
"Manual Isolation Valve" means a valve such as a gate valve, ball valve, or butterfly valve
installed downstream of the point of connection of the water supply to shutdown water flow
through mainline piping for routine maintenance and emergency repair.
"Master shut -off valve" an electronic valve such as a solenoid valve installed as close as possible
to the point of connection and is used in conjunction with a flow sensor and flow monitoring
controller technology to automatically shutdown system wide water flow in the event of high
flow conditions such as mainline pipe break.
"Maximum Applied Water Allowance" or "MAWA" means the upper limit of annual applied
water for the established landscape area, as specified in Section 2.2 of these Regulations. It is
based upon the area's reference evapotranspiration, the ETAF, and the size of the landscape
area. The Estimated Applied Water Use shall not exceed the Maximum Applied Water
Allowance.
"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, or proximity
to reflective surfaces.
"Mulch" means any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw or compost, or inorganic mineral
materials such as rocks, gravel, or 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.
"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.
"Operating pressure" means the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system of sprinklers
are designed to operate at by the manufacturer
"Overspray" means the irrigation water which is delivered beyond the target area.
35
"Person" means any natural person, firm, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, public
or private association, club, company, corporation, business trust, organization, public or private
agency, government agency or institution, school district, college, university, any other user of
water provided by the City or the local water purveyor, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant,
officer, or employee of any of them or any other entity which is recognized by law as the subject
of rights or duties.
"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 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 these Regulations are derived from the Department of Water Resources
2000 publication "Water Use Classification of Landscape Species."
"Precipitation rate" means the rate of application of water measured in inches per hour.
"Project applicant" means the person submitting a Landscape Documentation Package required
under Section 2.1 to request a permit, plan check, or design review from the local agency. A
project applicant may be the property owner or his or her designee.
"Property owner" or "owner" means the record owner of real property as shown on the most
recently issued equalized assessment roll.
"Reference evapotranspiration" or "ETV 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 C of these Regulations, 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.
"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.
"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 Areas" or "SLA" 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 areas dedicated to active play such as community pools and
spas, parks, sports fields, golf courses, and where turf provides a playing surface.
"Sprinkler head" means a device which delivers water through a nozzle.
36
"Static water pressure" means the pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is not
flowing.
"Station" means an area served by one valve or by a set of valves that operate simultaneously.
"Swing joint" means an irrigation component that provides a 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. 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 Efficient Landscape Ordinance" means Ordinance No. _, adopted by the City
Council on 1 2009, and codified in the Municipal Code in
[chapter /title /division/sections ].
"Water Efficient Landscape Worksheets" means the worksheets required to be completed
pursuant to Section 2.2 of these Regulations and which are included in Appendix B hereof.
"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, 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.
"Watering window" means the time of day irrigation is allowed.
"WUCOLS" means the Water Use Classification of Landscape published by the University of
California Cooperative Extension, the Department of Water Resources, and the Bureau of
Reclamation, 2000. www. owue. water. ca. gov /docs/wuco/s00
37
Appendix G: Irrigation Plan Checklist
This is a voluntary compliance tool template developed by the Irrigation Association.
IRRIGATION PLAN CHECKLIST
Please complete the following checklist by checking all appropriate categories under
APPLICANT column, indicating compliance with these content requirements. All submitted
plans shall contain the following information:
LANDSCAPE PLAN NUMBER:
NAME OF PROJECT:
Applicant
Planner
] 1.
Prevailing winds [ ]
[ ] 2.
Slope aspect and degree of slope [ ]
[ ] 3.
Soil type and infiltration rate [ ]
[ ] 4.
Vegetation type [ ]
] 5.
Microclimates [ ]
[ ] 6.
Expansive or hazardous soil conditions [ ]
[ ] 7.
Water harvesting potential [ ]
[ ] 8.
Available water supply, including non - potable and recycled water [ ]
All pertinent system information is indicated, including:
[ ] 9.
Irrigation zones substantially corresponding to hydrozones on the landscape [ ]
plan and labeled by precipitation rates and method of application
[ ] 10.
Water meters [ ]
[ ] 11.
Tap -in location [ ]
[ ] 12.
Static water pressure at the point of connection [ ]
[ ] 13.
System controller [ ]
[ ] 14.
Rain sensor /shut -off device [ ]
[ ] 15.
Backflow preventers [ ]
[ ] 16.
Shut -off valves and zone control valves [ ]
[ ] 17.
Main line and lateral piping [ ]
[ ] 18.
Sprinkler heads [ ]
[ ] 19.
Bubblers and drip irrigation tubing runs [ ]
[ ] 20.
Type and size of main irrigation system components [ ]
[ ] 21.
Total required operating pressure for each control valve /zone [ ]
[ ] 22.
Graphic depiction of the locations of irrigation system components [ ]
[ ] 23.
Total required operating pressure for each control valve /zone [ ]
[ ] 24.
Any supplemental stormwater and/or runoff harvesting [ ]
System design is in conformance with the following standards:
[ ] 25.
Certification of Professional Qualifications, attached [ ]
[ ] 26.
Pedestrian surfaces located on plan [ ]
[ ] 27.
Equipment installed flush with grade for safety [ ]
[ ] 28.
Compliance with local codes [ ]
[ ] 29.
Overspray onto impervious areas minimized [ ]
38
Appendix H: Inspection Affidavit
This is a voluntary compliance tool template developed by the Irrigation Association.
IRRIGATION INSPECTION AFFIDAVIT
(To be submitted in conformance with Code Section 309.C)
Irrigation Plan File No: Name of Project:
Irrigation Plan Designer: Inspector:
Date(s) of Inspection:
This project was inspected within the limits of customary access for compliance with the
approved irrigation plan on file in City Planning. At beast two (2) inspections wens conducted. The
findings are as follows:
A.
B.
1 Settling along trenches Is absent
2 System components (Le, controller, eventea rain r,
etc.) Installed as specified
1 Rotary heads pressure tested
4 System activated for obs on of compli
Landscape r.ptnpon king ap-
Each statlon con 11h deslg -built pla
7 Matched prec n rates pr i y zone
As - built plan pro awn
I hereby
below
EJ C
State:
State
X$ No
this Irrigation inspection affidavit based on the qualification indicated
Assoclatlon, Indicate year of certification
Name
(PRINT)
Date
39
Signature
(Check One)
Inspection during construction to check main line in open trench:
1. Location of main line conforms to as -built plan
2 Size of main line conforms to plan
3. Depth of main line conforms to plan
4, Main line condition is undamaged
_
5. Main line pressure tested with water and meter to a
visible leaks
B. Specific observations attached If needed
Inspection after completion of system Installation r
ee sodding:
1 Settling along trenches Is absent
2 System components (Le, controller, eventea rain r,
etc.) Installed as specified
1 Rotary heads pressure tested
4 System activated for obs on of compli
Landscape r.ptnpon king ap-
Each statlon con 11h deslg -built pla
7 Matched prec n rates pr i y zone
As - built plan pro awn
I hereby
below
EJ C
State:
State
X$ No
this Irrigation inspection affidavit based on the qualification indicated
Assoclatlon, Indicate year of certification
Name
(PRINT)
Date
39
Signature