The following are definitions of terms contained in this chapter:
"Applied water"means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
"Automatic irrigation controller"means a timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system. Automatic irrigation controllers are able to self-adjust and schedule irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.
"Best management practices (BMPs)"means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, training and education, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollution to surface and groundwater. BMPs include, without limitation, treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control urban runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage.
"Certified landscape irrigation auditor"means a person certified to perform landscape irrigation audits by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation auditor certification program and Irrigation Association's Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor Program.
"City"means the City of Santee.
"Compost"means the safe and stable product of controlled biologic decomposition of organic materials that is beneficial to plant growth.
"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.
"Establishment period of the plants"means the first year after installing the plant in the landscape or the first two years if irrigation will be terminated after establishment. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth. Native habitat mitigation areas and trees may need three to five years for establishment.
"ET adjustment factor (ETAF)"means a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for nonresidential areas, that, when applied to reference evapotranspiration, adjusts for plant factors and irrigation efficiency, two major influences upon the amount of water that needs to be applied to the landscape. The ETAF for new and existing (nonrehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0. The ETAF for existing (nonrehabilitated) landscapes is 0.8.
"Evapotranspiration rate"means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specified time.
"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.
"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.
"Hardscapes"means any durable material (pervious and nonpervious).
"Hydrozone"means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs. A hydrozone may be irrigated or nonirrigated.
"Integrated pest management (IPM)"means an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that is focused towards prevention, and natural controls as opposed to pesticides. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
"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.
"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 efficiencies for purposes of this ordinance are 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
"Irrigation survey"means an evaluation of an irrigation system that is less detailed than an irrigation audit. An irrigation survey includes, but is not limited to: inspection, system test, and written recommendations to improve performance of the irrigation system.
"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 foot-prints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or nonpervious hardscapes, and other nonirrigated areas designated for nondevelopment (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
"Landscape contractor"means a person licensed by the State of California to construct, maintain, repair, install, or subcontract the development of landscape systems.
"Landscape guidelines"means the City of Santee landscape guidelines for implementation of the City of Santee Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
"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
13.36.020.
"Local water purveyor"means any entity, including a public agency, City, County or private water company that provides retail water service.
"Maximum applied water allowance (MAWA)"means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscaped area as specified in Section 3.B of the guidelines for implementation of the City of Santee Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. 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)].
"Mined-land reclamation projects"means any surface mining operation with a reclamation plan approved in accordance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.
"New construction"means, for the purposes of this ordinance, a new building with a landscape or other new landscape, such as a park, playground, or greenbelt without an associated building.
"Nonresidential landscape"means landscapes in commercial, institutional, industrial and public settings that may have areas designated for recreation or public assembly. It also includes portions of common areas of common interest developments with designated recreational areas.
"Permit"means an authorizing document issued by local agencies for new construction or rehabilitated landscapes.
"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 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).
"Project applicant"means the individual or entity submitting a landscape documentation package required under Section 3 of the landscape guidelines, to request a permit, plan check, or design review from the City. A project applicant may be the property owner or designee.
"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.
"Recreational area"means areas, excluding private single family residential areas, designated for active play, recreation or public assembly such as in parks, sports fields, picnic grounds, amphitheaters and or golf courses tees, fairways, roughs, surrounds and greens.
"Recycled 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.
"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 of the landscape guidelines, and is an estimate of the evapotranspiration of a large field of four- to seven-inch tall, cool-season grass that is well watered. Reference evapotranspiration is used as the basis of determining the maximum applied water allowance so that regional differences in climate can be accommodated.
"Rehabilitated landscape"means any re-landscaping project that requires a permit, plan check, or design review, meets the requirements of Section
13.36.020, and the modified landscape area is equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet.
"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 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.
"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 the irrigation system.
"Water feature"means a design element where open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features include ponds, lakes, waterfalls, fountains, artificial streams, spas, and swimming pools (where water is artificially supplied). The surface area of water features is included in the high water use hydrozone of the 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.
(Ord. 566 § 3, 2019)