16.14.040 Definitions.

The terms used in this chapter have the meaning set forth below:

"Applied water" means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.

"Automatic irrigation controller" means an automatic timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system. Automatic irrigation controllers schedule irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.

"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.

"Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines" means the most recent version of the guidelines developed by StopWaste.Org for use in the professional design, construction and maintenance of landscapes.

"Bay-Friendly Landscaping Scorecard" means the most recent version of the Bay-Friendly Landscaping points system developed by StopWaste.Org.

"Certificate of completion" means the document required under Section 16.14.180.

"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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense Irrigation Designer Certification Program and Irrigation Association's Certified Irrigation Designer Program.

"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.

"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.

"City" means the city of American Canyon and its representatives.

"Common interest developments" means community apartment projects, condominium projects, planned developments, and stock cooperatives per Civil Code Section 1351.

"Compost" is the product of controlled biological decomposition of organic materials, often including urban plant debris and food waste. It is an organic matter resource that has the unique ability to improve the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of soils or growing media. It contains plant nutrients but is typically not characterized as a fertilizer. Excerpted from U.S. Compost Council, Field Guide to Compost Use.

"Conceptual landscape plan" means a preliminary landscape plan submitted to the city for review with a discretionary application.

"Conversion factor (0.62)" means the number that converts acre-inches per acre per year to gallons per square foot per year.

"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.

"Drought resistant soil" means soil that has been managed, by amending with compost and covering with mulch, for example, to maximize rainfall infiltration, increase the soil's capacity to hold water, and allow for plant roots to penetrate and proliferate such that the landscape can survive with less than optimal water (i.e., less than MAWA).

"Ecological restoration project" means a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.

"Effective precipitation (Eppt)" or "usable rainfall" means the portion of total precipitation which becomes available for plant growth.

"Emitter" means a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly from the system to the soil.

"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.

"Estimated total water use (ETWU)" means the total water used for the landscape as described in Section 492.4.

"ET adjustment factor (ETAF)" means a factor of 0.7, 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.

"Evapotranspiration rate" means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specified time.

"Final landscape plan" means a landscape plan submitted to the city for review and issuance of building permits and contains the same elements as the conceptual landscape plan.

"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 (pervious and non-pervious).

"High-flow sensors" or "flow meters" detect and report high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunction.

"Homeowner-provided landscaping" means any landscaping either installed by a private individual for a single-family residence or installed by a licensed contractor hired by a homeowner. A homeowner, for purposes of this chapter, is a person who occupies the dwelling he or she owns. This excludes speculative homes, which are not owner-occupied dwellings.

"Hydrozone" means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs. 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 plant species" means species of plants not historically found in California that spread outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or economic resources.

"Irrigation audit" means an in-depth evaluation of the performance of an irrigation system conducted by a certified landscape irrigation auditor.

"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.

"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.

"Irrigation water use analysis" means an analysis of water use data based on meter readings and billing data.

"Landscape architect" means a person who holds a license to practice landscape architecture in the state of California Business and Professions Code Section 5615.

"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 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 documentation package" means the documents required under Section 16.14.050.

"Landscape project" means total area of landscape in a project as defined in "Landscape area" for the purposes of this chapter, meeting requirements under Section 16.14.020.

"Lateral line" means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or sprinklers from the valve.

"Lawn" means an area of short, mown grass in a yard, garden, or park.

"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.

"Main line" means the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the water source to the valve or outlet.

"Maximum applied water allowance (MAWA)" means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscaped area as specified in Section 16.14.070. It is based upon the area's reference evapotranspiration, the ET adjustment factor, and the size of the landscape area.

"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.

"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.

"Mulch" means any organic material such as leaves, bark, arbor or wood chips, recycled wood waste, straw, compost, or inorganic mineral materials such as rocks, gravel, and 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.

"Native species" means plants from the local microclimate or Northern California species.

"New construction" means, for the purposes of this chapter, a new building with a landscape or other new landscape, such as a park, playground, or greenbelt without an associated building.

"Operating pressure" means the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system are designed by the manufacturer to operate.

"Overhead sprinkler irrigation systems" means systems that deliver water through the air (e.g., spray heads and rotors).

"Overspray" means the irrigation water which is delivered beyond the target area.

"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 that, when multiplied by ETo, estimates the amount of water needed by plants.

"Precipitation rate" means the rate of application of water measured in inches per hour.

"Project applicant" means the individual or entity submitting a landscape documentation package required under Section 16.14.050, to request a permit, plan check, or design permit from the city. A project applicant may be the property owner or designee.

"Rain sensor" or "rain sensing shutoff device" means a component which automatically suspends an irrigation event when it rains.

"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 publicly owned or publicly accessible areas dedicated to active play such as parks, sports fields, and golf courses where turf provides a playing surface.

"Recycled water," "reclaimed water," or "treated sewage effluent 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.

"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 Section 16.14.070, 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 permit, meets the requirements of Section 16.14.020, and the modified landscape area is equal to or greater than two thousand five hundred square feet, is fifty percent of the total landscape area, and the modifications are completed within one year.

"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.

"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.

"Soil texture" means the classification of soil based on its percentage of sand, silt, and clay.

"Special landscape area (SLA)" means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants, 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 turf provides a playing surface.

"Sprinkler head" means a device which delivers water through a nozzle.

"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 flexible, leak-free connection between the emission device and lateral pipeline to allow movement in any direction and to prevent equipment damage.

"Turf" means a species of grass that was developed to be used as a lawn together with the surface layer of earth held together by its roots.

"Valve" means a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system.

"Water conserving plant species" means a plant species identified as having a low plant factor. "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).

"Watering window" means the time of day irrigation is allowed.

"WUCOLS" means the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species published by the University of California Cooperative Extension, the Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation, 2100.