0.75 inches per hour.

This restriction may be modified if the landscape designer 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 irrigation audit.

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, ground covers, 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 plant factor; or

(2) The plant factor of the higher water using plant is used for 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. Use this

valve number in the water efficient landscape worksheet. This table can also assist with the irrigation audit and programming the controller.

B. The irrigation design plan, at a minimum, shall contain:

1. Location and size of separate water meters for landscape;

2. 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;

5. Recycled water irrigation systems as specified in section 25-32A.16 of this article;

6. The following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them accordingly for the efficient use of

water in the irrigation design plan"; and

7. The signature of a licensed landscape architect, certified irrigation designer, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person

authorized to design an irrigation system. (See sections 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701, 7027.5 of the Business And Professions Code, section 832.27 of title 16 of the California code of regulations, and section 6721 of the Food And Agricultural Code.) (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.10: GRADING DESIGN PLAN:

A. For the efficient use of water, grading of a project site shall be designed to minimize soil erosion, runoff, and water waste. A grading plan shall be submitted as part of the landscape documentation package. A comprehensive grading plan prepared by a civil engineer for other building permits satisfies this requirement.

1. The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished configurations and elevations of the landscape

area including:

a. Height of graded slopes;

b. Drainage patterns;

c. Pad elevations;

d. Finish grade; and

e. Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.

2. To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, it is highly recommended that project applicants:

a. Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within property lines and does not drain onto nonpermeable hardscapes;

b. Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil; and

c. Avoid soil compaction in landscape areas.

3. 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 a licensed professional as authorized by law. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.11: CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION:

A. The certificate of completion shall include the following six (6) elements:

1. Project information sheet that contains:

a. Date;

b. Project name;

c. Project applicant name, telephone, and mailing address;

d. Project address and location;

e. Property owner name, telephone, and mailing address;

2. Certification by either the signer of the landscape design plan, the signer of the irrigation design plan, or the licensed landscape

contractor that the landscape project has been installed per the approved landscape documentation package;

a. Where there have been significant changes made in the field during construction, these "as built" or record drawings shall be

included with the certification;

b. A diagram of the irrigation plan showing hydrozones shall be kept with the irrigation controller for subsequent management

purposes;

3. Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller (see section25-32A.12 of this article);

4. Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule (see section 25-32A.13 of this article);

5. Irrigation audit report (see section 25-32A.14 of this article); and

6. Soil analysis report, if not submitted with landscape documentation package, and documentation verifying implementation of soil report recommendations (see section 25-32A.7 of this article).

B. The project applicant shall:

1. Submit the signed certificate of completion to the city of Porterville for review; and

2. Ensure that copies of the approved certificate of completion are submitted to the property owner or his or her designee.

C. The city of Porterville shall:

1. Receive the signed certificate of completion from the project applicant; and

2. Approve or deny the certificate of completion. If the certificate of completion is denied, the city of Porterville shall provide information to the project applicant regarding reapplication, appeal, or other assistance. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.12: 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. Irrigation shall be scheduled in a manner consistent with the current phase of the city's water conservation plan.

3. For implementation of the irrigation schedule, particular attention must be paid to irrigation run times, emission device, flow rate,

and current reference evapotranspiration, so that applied water meets the estimated total water use. Total annual applied water shall be less than or equal to maximum applied water allowance (MAWA). Actual irrigation schedules shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers using current reference evapotranspiration data (e.g., CIMIS) or soil moisture sensor data.

4. Parameters used to set the automatic controller shall be developed and submitted for each of the following:

a. The plant establishment period;

b. The established landscape; and

c. Temporarily irrigated areas.

5. Each irrigation schedule shall consider for each station all of the following that apply:

a. Irrigation interval (days between irrigation);

b. Irrigation run times (hours or minutes per irrigation event to avoid runoff);

c. Number of cycle starts required for each irrigation event to avoid runoff;

d. Amount of applied water scheduled to be applied on a monthly basis;

e. Application rate setting;

f. Root depth setting;

g. Plant type setting;

h. Soil type;

i. Slope factor setting;

j. Shade factor setting; and

k. Irrigation uniformity or efficiency setting. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.13: LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE:

A. Landscapes shall be maintained to ensure water use efficiency. A regular maintenance schedule shall be submitted with the certificate of completion.

B. A regular maintenance schedule shall include, but not be limited to, routine inspection; auditing, adjustment and repair of the irrigation system and its components; aerating and dethatching turf areas; top dressing with compost, replenishing mulch; fertilizing; pruning; weeding in all landscape areas, and removing obstructions to emission devices.

C. Repair of all irrigation equipment shall be done with the originally installed components or their equivalents or with components with greater efficiency.

D. A project applicant is encouraged to implement established landscape industry sustainable best practices for all landscape maintenance activities. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.14: IRRIGATION AUDIT, IRRIGATION SURVEY, AND IRRIGATION WATER USE ANALYSIS:

A. All landscape irrigation audits shall be conducted by a third party certified landscape irrigation auditor. Landscape audits shall not be conducted by the person who designed the landscape or installed the landscape.

B. In large projects or projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e., production home developments) an auditing rate of one in seven (7) lots or approximately fifteen percent (15%) will satisfy this requirement.

C. For new construction and rehabilitated landscape projects installed after December 3, 2015, as described in section25-32A.2 of

this article:

1. The project applicant shall submit an irrigation audit report with the certificate of completion to the city of Porterville that may

include, but is not limited to: inspection, system tune up, system test with distribution uniformity, reporting overspray or runoff that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule, including configuring irrigation controllers with application rate, soil types, plant factors, slope, exposure and any other factors necessary for accurate programming; and

2. The city of Porterville shall administer programs that may include, but not be limited to, irrigation water use analysis, irrigation

audits, and irrigation surveys for compliance with the maximum applied water allowance. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.15: IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY:

A. For the purpose of determining estimated total water use, average irrigation efficiency is assumed to be 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip system devices. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.16: RECYCLED WATER:

A. The installation of recycled water irrigation systems shall allow for the current and future use of recycled water.

B. All recycled water irrigation systems shall be designed and operated in accordance with all applicable local and state laws.

C. Landscapes using recycled water are considered special landscape areas. The ET adjustment factor for new and existing (nonrehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.17: GRAY WATER SYSTEMS:

A. Gray water systems promote the efficient use of water and are encouraged to assist in on site landscape irrigation. All gray water systems shall conform to the California plumbing code (title 24, part 5, chapter 16) and any applicable local ordinance standards. Refer to subsection 25-32A.2C of this article for the applicability of this division to landscape areas less than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet with the estimated total water use met entirely by gray water. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.18: STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND RAINWATER RETENTION:

A. Stormwater management practices minimize runoff and increase infiltration which recharges groundwater and improves water quality. Implementing stormwater best management practices into the landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to increase on site rainwater retention and infiltration are encouraged.

B. Project applicants shall refer to the city of Porterville and regional water quality control board for information on any applicable stormwater technical requirements.

C. All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize water retention and infiltration. Refer to subsection 25- 32A.8A3 of this article.

D. 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 either:

1. The 1-inch, 24-hour rain event, or

2. The eighty fifth percentile, 24-hour rain event, and/or

3. Additional capacity as required by any applicable local, regional, state or federal regulation.

E. It is recommended that stormwater 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 to 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 landscaped areas to maximize site water capture and

reuse.

5. Incorporate rain gardens, cisterns, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems.

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. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.19: 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.

1. The city of Porterville shall provide information to owners of permitted renovations and new single-family residential homes

regarding the design, installation, management, and maintenance of water efficient landscapes based on a water budget.

B. Model Homes: All model homes shall be landscaped and use signs and written information to demonstrate the principles of water efficient landscapes described in this division.

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 this division; specify who designed and installed the water efficient landscape; and demonstrate low water use approaches to landscaping such as using native plants, gray water systems, and rainwater catchment systems.

   2. Information shall be provided about designing, installing, managing, and maintaining water efficient landscapes. (Ord. 1830, 11- 17-2015)

25-32A.20: IRRIGATION AUDIT, IRRIGATION SURVEY, AND IRRIGATION WATER USE ANALYSIS, EXISTING:

A. This section shall apply to all existing landscapes that were installed before December 3, 2015, and are over one acre in size.

1. For all landscapes in this subsection A that have a water meter, the city of Porterville shall administer programs that may include,

but not be limited to, irrigation water use analyses, irrigation surveys, and irrigation audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as necessary to reduce landscape water use to a level that does not exceed the maximum applied water allowance for existing landscapes. The maximum applied water allowance for existing landscapes shall be calculated as: MAWA = (0.8)(ETo)(LA) (0.62).

2. For all landscapes in this subsection A that do not have a meter, the city of Porterville shall administer programs that may include,

but not be limited to, irrigation surveys and irrigation audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as necessary in order to prevent water waste.

B. All landscape irrigation audits shall be conducted by a third party certified landscape irrigation auditor. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.21: WATER WASTE PREVENTION:

A. The city of Porterville shall prevent water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation by prohibiting runoff from leaving the target landscape due to low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways, parking lots, or structures.

B. Restrictions regarding overspray and runoff may be modified if:

1. The landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runoff occurs; or

2. The adjacent nonpermeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.22: EFFECTIVE PRECIPITATION:

A. The city of Porterville will consider effective precipitation (25 percent of annual precipitation) in tracking water use and will use the following equation to calculate maximum applied water allowance:

MAWA = (ETo - Eppt)(0.62)[(0.55 x LA) + (0.45 x SLA)] for residential areas.

MAWA = (ETo - Eppt)(0.62)[(0.45 x LA) + (0.55 x SLA)] for nonresidential areas.

(Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.23: PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE OPTION:

A. Any project with an aggregate landscape area of two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet or less may comply with the prescriptive compliance option as an alternative to the other performance requirements of this division.

B. Compliance with the following items is mandatory and must be documented on 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 (4) cubic yards per one thousand (1,000) square feet to a depth of six inches (6")

into landscape area (unless contraindicated 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 plant

factor 0.3) for seventy five percent (75%) of the plant area excluding edibles and areas using recycled water. For nonresidential areas, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for one hundred

percent (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 ground covers, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.

4. Turf shall comply with all of the following:

a. Turf shall not exceed twenty five percent (25%) of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in

nonresidential areas;

b. Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a slope of one foot (1') vertical elevation change for every four feet (4')

of horizontal length;

c. Turf is prohibited in parkways less than ten feet (10') 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 subsurface 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

manufacturer's recommended pressure range.

d. Manual shutoff 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/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 ASABE/ICC 802-2014.

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. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.24: PENALTIES:

A. Penalties for violation of this division will be imposed as prescribed in chapter 1 of this code. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.25: REPORTING:

A. The city of Porterville will report on implementation and enforcement of this division to the department of water resources on an annual basis, not later than January 31 of each year.

B. The report shall include the following information:

1. The number and types of projects subject to the ordinance during the specified reporting period.

2. The total area (in square feet or acres) subject to the ordinance over the reporting period, if available.

3. The number of new housing starts, new commercial projects, and landscape retrofits during the reporting period.

4. The procedure for review of projects subject to the ordinance.

5. Actions taken to verify compliance. If a plan check was performed, note by which entity. If a site inspection was performed, note

by which entity. If a postinstallation audit was required, note by whom.

6. Describe enforcement measures.

7. Explain challenges to implementing and enforcing the ordinance.

8. Describe educational and other needs to properly apply the ordinance. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.26: WASTEFUL USE OF WATER PROHIBITED:

In addition to all protocols within this division adopted with the intent to increase efficient outdoor water use, property owners and residents shall use reasonable care to prevent the waste of water. Water shall not be allowed to run or waste from a property onto streets or highways, and shall not be used to wash sidewalks, building entrances or lobbies or other properties to such excess that water shall flow in street gutters beyond the frontage of the properties occupied by them. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)

25-32A.27: CITY WATER CONSERVATION PLAN:

The city council has adopted by resolution its water conservation plan which sets forth water conservation phases and conservation measures including mandatory restrictions on water usage by property owners and water consumers. Violation of the measures in effect, currently and as may be amended by resolution from time to time, pursuant to the applicable phase of the water conservation plan, shall be enforceable as set forth per any applicable remedy provisions in this code, including, but not limited to, sections 1-9 and 1-10 of this code, and chapter 2, article XIV of this code, and/or this division. The city's water conservation plan is deemed to be the city's "water shortage contingency plan" as per applicable state law. (Ord. 1830, 11-17-2015)