California Code of Regulations › Title 23 - Waters › Division 2 - Department of Water Resources › Chapter 2.7 - Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance › Section 491 - Definitions

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
The terms used in this ordinance have the meaning set forth
				  below:
(a) "applied water" means the
				portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
(b) "automatic irrigation controller" means a
				timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation
				system. Automatic irrigation controllers are able to self-adjust and schedule
				irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil
				moisture data.
(c) "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.
(d) "Certificate
				of Completion" means the document required under Section
				492.9.
(e) "certified irrigation designer" means a
				person certified to design irrigation systems by an accredited academic
				institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the US
				Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation designer certification
				program and Irrigation Association's Certified Irrigation Designer
				program.
(f) "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.
(g) "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.
(h)
				"common interest developments" means community apartment projects, condominium
				projects, planned developments, and stock cooperatives per Civil Code Section
				1351.
(i) "compost" means the safe and stable
				product of controlled biologic decomposition of organic materials that is
				beneficial to plant growth.
(j)
				"conversion factor (0.62)" means the number that converts acre-inches per acre
				per year to gallons per square foot per year.
(k) "distribution uniformity" means the
				measure of the uniformity of irrigation water over a defined area.
(l) "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.
(m) "ecological restoration
				project" means a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a
				defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
(n) "effective precipitation" or "usable
				rainfall" (Eppt) means the portion of total precipitation which becomes
				available for plant growth.
(o)
				"emitter" means a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly
				from the system to the soil.
(p)
				"established landscape" means the point at which plants in the landscape have
				developed significant root growth into the soil. Typically, most plants are
				established after one or two years of growth.
(q) "establishment period of the plants"
				means the first year after installing the plant in the landscape or the first
				two years if irrigation will be terminated after establishment. Typically, most
				plants are established after one or two years of growth. Native habitat
				mitigation areas and trees may need three to five years for
				establishment.
(r) "Estimated Total
				Water Use" (ETWU) means the total water used for the landscape as described in
				Section 492.4.
(s) "ET adjustment factor" (ETAF) means a
				factor 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 Areas shall not exceed 1.0. The ETAF for
				existing non-rehabilitated landscapes is 0.8.
(t) "evapotranspiration rate" means the
				quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other surfaces and
				transpired by plants during a specified time.
(u) "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.
(v) "flow sensor" means an inline device
				installed at the supply point of the irrigation system that produces a
				repeatable signal proportional to flow rate. Flow sensors must be connected to
				an automatic irrigation controller, or flow monitor capable of receiving flow
				signals and operating master valves. This combination flow sensor/controller
				may also function as a landscape water meter or submeter.
(w) "friable" means a soil condition that is
				easily crumbled or loosely compacted down to a minimum depth per planting
				material requirements, whereby the root structure of newly planted material
				will be allowed to spread unimpeded.
(x) "Fuel Modification Plan Guideline" means
				guidelines from a local fire authority to assist residents and businesses that
				are developing land or building structures in a fire hazard severity
				zone.
(y) "graywater" means
				untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge,
				has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes,
				and does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing,
				manufacturing, or operating wastes. "Graywater" includes, 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. Health and Safety Code Section
				17922.12.
(z) "hardscapes" means any durable material
				(pervious and non-pervious).
(aa)
				"hydrozone" means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar
				water needs and rooting depth. A hydrozone may be irrigated or
				non-irrigated.
(bb) "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).
(cc) "invasive plant species" means species
				of plants not historically found in California that spread outside cultivated
				areas and can damage environmental or economic resources. Invasive species may
				be regulated by county agricultural agencies as noxious species. Lists of
				invasive plants are maintained at the California Invasive Plant Inventory and
				USDA invasive and noxious weeds database.
(dd) "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. The audit must be conducted in a
				manner consistent with the Irrigation Association's Landscape Irrigation
				Auditor Certification program or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
				"Watersense" labeled auditing program.
(ee) "irrigation efficiency" (IE) means the
				measurement of the amount of water beneficially used divided by the amount of
				water applied. Irrigation efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates
				of irrigation system characteristics and management practices. The irrigation
				efficiency for purposes of this ordinance are 0.75 for overhead spray devices
				and 0.81 for drip systems.
(ff)
				"irrigation survey" means an evaluation of an irrigation system that is less
				detailed than an irrigation audit. An irrigation survey includes, but is not
				limited to: inspection, system test, and written recommendations to improve
				performance of the irrigation system.
(gg) "irrigation water use analysis" means an
				analysis of water use data based on meter readings and billing data.
(hh) "landscape architect" means a person who
				holds a license to practice landscape architecture in the state of California
				Business and Professions Code, Section
				5615.
(ii) "landscape area" means all the planting
				areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the
				Maximum Applied Water Allowance calculation. 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).
(jj) "landscape contractor" means a person
				licensed by the state of California to construct, maintain, repair, install, or
				subcontract the development of landscape systems.
(kk) "Landscape Documentation Package" means
				the documents required under Section
				492.3.
(ll) "landscape project" means total area of
				landscape in a project as defined in "landscape area" for the purposes of this
				ordinance, meeting requirements under Section
				490.1.
(mm) "landscape water meter" means an inline
				device installed at the irrigation supply point that measures the flow of water
				into the irrigation system and is connected to a totalizer to record water
				use.
(nn) "lateral line" means the
				water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or sprinklers from
				the valve.
(oo) "local agency"
				means a city or county, including a charter city or charter county, that is
				responsible for adopting and implementing the ordinance. The local agency is
				also responsible for the enforcement of this ordinance, including but not
				limited to, approval of a permit and plan check or design review of a
				project.
(pp) "local water
				purveyor" means any entity, including a public agency, city, county, or private
				water company that provides retail water service.
(qq) "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.
(rr) "main line" means the pressurized
				pipeline that delivers water from the water source to the valve or
				outlet.
(ss) "master shut-off
				valve" is an automatic valve installed at the irrigation supply point which
				controls water flow into the irrigation system. When this valve is closed water
				will not be supplied to the irrigation system. A master valve will greatly
				reduce any water loss due to a leaky station valve.
(tt) "Maximum Applied Water Allowance" (MAWA)
				means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscaped
				area as specified in Section
				492.4. It is based upon the area's
				reference evapotranspiration, the ET Adjustment Factor, and the size of the
				landscape area. The Estimated Total Water Use shall not exceed the Maximum
				Applied Water Allowance. Special Landscape Areas, including recreation areas,
				areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants such as orchards and
				vegetable gardens, and areas irrigated with recycled water are subject to the
				MAWA with an ETAF not to exceed 1.0. MAWA = (ETo) (0.62) [(ETAF x LA) +
				((1-ETAF) x SLA)]
(uu) "median" is
				an area between opposing lanes of traffic that may be unplanted or planted with
				trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses.
(vv) "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.
(ww) "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.
(xx) "mulch" means any organic material such
				as leaves, bark, straw, 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.
(yy) "new construction" means, for the
				purposes of this ordinance, a new building with a landscape or other new
				landscape, such as a park, playground, or greenbelt without an associated
				building.
(zz) "non-residential
				landscape" means landscapes in commercial, institutional, industrial and public
				settings that may have areas designated for recreation or public assembly. It
				also includes portions of common areas of common interest developments with
				designated recreational areas.
(aaa) "operating pressure" means the pressure
				at which the parts of an irrigation system are designed by the manufacturer to
				operate.
(bbb) "overhead sprinkler
				irrigation systems" or "overhead spray irrigation systems" means systems that
				deliver water through the air (e.g., spray heads and rotors).
(ccc) "overspray" means the irrigation water
				which is delivered beyond the target area.
(ddd) "parkway" means the area between a
				sidewalk and the curb or traffic lane. It may be planted or unplanted, and with
				or without pedestrian egress.
(eee)
				"permit" means an authorizing document issued by local agencies for new
				construction or rehabilitated landscapes.
(fff) "pervious" means any surface or
				material that allows the passage of water through the material and into the
				underlying soil.
(ggg) "plant
				factor" or "plant water use factor" is a factor, when multiplied by ETo,
				estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For purposes of this 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 0.1 to 0.3, the plant factor range for
				moderate water use plants is 0.4 to 0.6, and the plant factor range for high
				water use plants is 0.7 to 1.0. Plant factors cited in this 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).
(hhh) "project applicant" means the
				individual or entity submitting a Landscape Documentation Package required
				under Section
				492.3, 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.
(iii) "rain sensor" or "rain sensing shutoff
				device" means a component which automatically suspends an irrigation event when
				it rains.
(jjj) "record drawing" or
				"as-builts" means a set of reproducible drawings which show significant changes
				in the work made during construction and which are usually based on drawings
				marked up in the field and other data furnished by the contractor.
(kkk) "recreational area" means areas,
				excluding private single family residential areas, designated for active play,
				recreation or public assembly in parks, sports fields, picnic grounds,
				amphitheaters or golf course tees, fairways, roughs, surrounds and
				greens.
(lll) "recycled water,"
				"reclaimed water," or "treated sewage effluent water" means treated or recycled
				waste water of a quality suitable for nonpotable uses such as landscape
				irrigation and water features. This water is not intended for human
				consumption.
(mmm) "reference
				evapotranspiration" or "ETo" means a standard measurement of environmental
				parameters which affect the water use of plants. ETo is expressed in inches per
				day, month, or year as represented in Appendix A, and is an estimate of the
				evapotranspiration of a large field of four- to seven-inch tall, cool-season
				grass that is well watered. Reference evapotranspiration is used as the basis
				of determining the Maximum Applied Water Allowances so that regional
				differences in climate can be accommodated.
(nnn) "Regional Water Efficient Landscape
				Ordinance" means a local Ordinance adopted by two or more local agencies, water
				suppliers and other stakeholders for implementing a consistent set of landscape
				provisions throughout a geographical region. Regional ordinances are strongly
				encouraged to provide a consistent framework for the landscape industry and
				applicants to adhere to.
(ooo)
				"rehabilitated landscape" means any relandscaping project that requires a
				permit, plan check, or design review, meets the requirements of Section
				490.1, and the modified landscape
				area is equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet.
(ppp) "residential landscape" means
				landscapes surrounding single or multifamily homes.
(qqq) "run off" means water which is not
				absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied and flows from the
				landscape area. For example, run off may result from water that is applied at
				too great a rate (application rate exceeds infiltration rate) or when there is
				a slope.
(rrr) "soil moisture
				sensing device" or "soil moisture sensor" means a device that measures the
				amount of water in the soil. The device may also suspend or initiate an
				irrigation event.
(sss) "soil
				texture" means the classification of soil based on its percentage of sand,
				silt, and clay.
(ttt) "Special
				Landscape Area" (SLA) means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible
				plants, recreational areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, or water
				features using recycled water.
(uuu) "sprinkler head" or "spray head" means
				a device which delivers water through a nozzle.
(vvv) "static water pressure" means the
				pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is not
				flowing.
(www) "station" means an
				area served by one valve or by a set of valves that operate
				simultaneously.
(xxx) "swing joint"
				means an irrigation component that provides a flexible, leak-free connection
				between the emission device and lateral pipeline to allow movement in any
				direction and to prevent equipment damage.
(yyy) "submeter" means a metering device to
				measure water applied to the landscape that is installed after the primary
				utility water meter.
(zzz) "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.
(aaaa) "valve" means a device used to control
				the flow of water in the irrigation system.
(bbbb) "water conserving plant species" means
				a plant species identified as having a very low or low plant factor.
(cccc) "water feature" means a design element
				where open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features
				include ponds, lakes, waterfalls, fountains, artificial streams, spas, and
				swimming pools (where water is artificially supplied). The surface area of
				water features is included in the high water use hydrozone of the landscape
				area. Constructed wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment or stormwater
				best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water
				treatment or stormwater retention are not water features and, therefore, are
				not subject to the water budget calculation.
(dddd) "watering window" means the time of
				day irrigation is allowed.
(eeee)
				"WUCOLS" means the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species published by
				the University of California Cooperative Extension and the Department of Water
				Resources 2014.
1. New section
				  filed 7-31-92; operative 7-31-92 (Register 92, No. 32).
2. Amendment
				  of section and NOTE filed 9-10-2009; operative 9-10-2009 pursuant to Government
				  Code section
				  11343.4
				  (Register 2009, No. 37).
3. Amendment of section and NOTE filed
				  9-15-2015; operative 9-15-2015. Exempt from OAL review and submitted to OAL for
				  printing only pursuant to Governor's Executive Order No. B-29-15 (4-1-2015)
				  (Register 2015, No. 38).
Note: Authority cited: Section
					 65595,
					 Government Code; and sections
					 11 and
					 30, Governor's Exec. Order No.
					 B-29-15 (April 1, 2015). Reference: Sections
					 65592 and
					 65596,
					 Government Code; and section
					 11, Governor's Exec. Order No.
					 B-29-15 (April 1, 2015).