Extracted standards
18 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Environmental
- CEQA compliance
City of Needles must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as appropriate.
Other
- Certificate of completion
Certificate of Completion shall include six elements: project information sheet, certification, irrigation plan diagram, irrigation scheduling parameters, landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule, irrigation audit report.
- Effective precipitation25 pct
City may consider Effective Precipitation (25% of annual precipitation) in tracking water use. MAWA equations: Residential: MAWA = (ETo - Eppt)(0.62)[(0.55 x LA) + (0.45 x SLA)]; Non-residential: MAWA = (ETo - Eppt)(0.62)[(0.45 x LA) + (0.55 x SLA)].
- Emission device selection
Selected based on plant type within the hydrozone.
- Existing landscapes
For landscapes without a meter, City shall administer programs including irrigation surveys and audits. All audits conducted by certified landscape irrigation auditor.
- Graywater
Graywater systems promote efficient water use and are encouraged for on-site landscape irrigation.
- Hydrozone valve assignment
Each valve shall irrigate a hydrozone with similar site, slope, sun exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water use.
- Irrigation audit
All audits conducted by a third-party certified landscape irrigation auditor. Audits shall not be conducted by the person who designed or installed the landscape.
- Irrigation efficiency - drip0.81 ratio
Average irrigation efficiency is assumed to be 0.81 for drip system devices.
- Irrigation efficiency - overhead spray0.75 ratio
Average irrigation efficiency is assumed to be 0.75 for overhead spray devices.
- Irrigation scheduling
Irrigation scheduling shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers. Total annual applied water shall be ≤ Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA). Schedules developed for plant establishment, established landscape, and temporarily irrigated areas.
- Maintenance schedule
Landscape shall be maintained to ensure water use efficiency. Regular maintenance schedule submitted with Certificate of Completion. Includes routine inspection, auditing, repair, aerating, topdressing, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, weeding.
- Mixed hydrozones
Mixing moderate/low or moderate/high water use plants allowed if plant factor calculation based on proportions or higher water use plant factor. Mixing high and low water use plants not permitted.
- Public education
City shall provide information to owners of permitted renovations and new single-family residential homes regarding water efficient landscapes. Model homes shall be landscaped and use signs to demonstrate water efficient principles.
- Recycled water
Installation of recycled water irrigation systems shall allow for current and future use of recycled water. All recycled water systems designed and operated per applicable local and State laws.
- Reporting
City Manager shall report to California Department of Water Resources by December 31, 2015, and by January 31 each year thereafter, pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 23, Division 2, Chapter 2.7, Section 495.
- Stormwater management
Stormwater management practices minimize runoff and increase infiltration. Recommended elements include grading to vegetated areas, pervious surfaces, rain gardens, cisterns, infiltration beds, swales, basins, drywells, constructed wetlands.
- Tree separation
Where feasible, trees shall be on separate valves from shrubs, groundcovers, and turf. Mature size and root zone extent considered in design.
From the ordinance
For efficient water use, all irrigation schedules shall be developed, managed, and evaluated to utilize the minimum amount of water required to maintain plant health.