§ 7D3-8. Glossary.
As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context in which they are used clearly requires otherwise. The definition of a term or phrase applies to any of that term's or phrase's variants.
"Backflow prevention device" means an approved device installed to prevent backflow or back-siphonage into the potable water system.
"Building permit" means any building permit under Chapter 7 of this code.
"Booster pump" means a pump used where the normal water system pressure is low and needs to be increased.
"California Invasive Plant Inventory" means the California Invasive Plant Inventory maintained by the California Invasive Plant Council.
"Check 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.
"Compost" means the safe and stable product of controlled biologic decomposition of organic materials that is beneficial to plant growth.
"Department" means the permit and resource management department.
"Design review" means any design review under Chapter 26 or 26C of this code.
"Director" means the director of the permit and resource management department or his or her authorized representative.
"Distribution uniformity" means the measure of the uniformity of irrigation water over a defined area.
"Ecological restoration project" means a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
"Effective precipitation" means the portion of total precipitation which becomes available for plant growth and that is used by the plants.
"Evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF)" means, a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and .45 for non-residential areas, that, when applied to reference evapotranspiration, adjusts for plant factors and irrigation efficiency, two (2) major influences upon the amount of water that needs to be applied to the landscape. The ETAF for a new and existing (non-rehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0.
"Evapotranspiration rate (ET)" means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specific specified time.
"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.
"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.
"Grading permit" means any grading permit under Chapter 11 of this code.
"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.
"Hardscape" means any durable material (pervious and non-pervious).
"Head to head coverage" means full coverage from one (1) sprinkler head to the next.
"High-flow sensor" means a device for sensing the rate of fluid flow.
"High water use plant" mean any plant categorized as high water need by the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species Guide. Plant factors may also be obtained from horticultural researchers from academic institutions or nursery industry professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
"Hydrozone" means a portion of the landscape area having plants with similar water needs that are served by a valve or set of valves with the same schedule.
"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" means any plant listed on the California Invasive Plant Inventory.
"Irrigation efficiency" 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 chapter are .75 for overhead spray devices and .81 for drip systems.
"Irrigation meter" means a separate meter that measures the amount of water used for items such as lawns, washing exterior surfaces, washing vehicles, or filling pools.
"Isolation valve" means a valve used to isolate a portion of the piping system.
"Landscape area" means the dedicated landscape area on a property. Water features are included in the calculation of the landscape area. Areas dedicated to agricultural cultivation are not included. 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 nonirrigated areas designated for non-development (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
"Land use permit" means any ministerial or discretionary permit or approval granted by the county pursuant to Chapter 26 or 26C of this code to use a specific site for a particular purpose.
"Lateral line" means non-pressurized pipe that is located downstream of an irrigation valve (Class 200 or equivalent is not acceptable).
"Low-head drainage" means water that flows out of the system after the valve turns off due to elevation changes within the system.
"Low water use plant" means any plant categorized as low water need by the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species Guide.
"Master valve" means 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.
"Maximum applied water allowance" means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscape area. 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
"Mined-land reclamation project" means any surface mining operation with a reclamation plan approved in accordance with Chapter 26A of this code.
"Moderate water use plant" means any plant categorized as moderate water need by the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species Guide. Plant factors may also be obtained from horticultural researchers from academic institutions or nursery industry professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
"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.
"New landscape" means any new landscaping project.
"Non-pervious" means any surface or material that does not allow the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
"Overhead irrigation" means systems that deliver water through the air (e.g., pop-ups, impulse sprinklers, spray heads, rotors, micro-sprays, etc.).
"Overspray" means the irrigation water that is delivered beyond the landscape area, wetting pavements, walks, structures, or other non-landscaped areas.
"Pervious" means any surface or material that allows the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
"Plant factor" means a factor that, when multiplied by reference evapotranspiration, estimates the amount of water used by needed plants. Plant factors cited in this chapter are derived from the department of water publication "Water Use Classification of Landscape Species." Plant factors may also be obtained from horticultural researchers from academic institutions or nursery industry professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
"Point of connection" means the point at which an irrigation system taps into the main water supply line.
"Point source 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.
"Precipitation rate" means the rate of application of water measured in inches per hour.
"Pressure regulation" means a valve that automatically reduces the pressure in a pipe.
"Project applicant" means the individual or entity submitting a landscape documentation package, to request a permit, plan check or design review from the department. A project applicant may be the property owner or his or her designee.
"Rain sensor" means a system component that automatically shuts off and suspends the irrigation system when it rains.
"Recreational area" means areas, excluding private single family residential areas designated for active play, recreation or public assembly in parks, sports fields, school yards, picnic grounds, amphitheaters, or golf course tees, fairways, roughs, surrounds and greens.
"Recycled water" means non-potable water that meets California Department of Public Health statewide uniform criteria for disinfected tertiary recycled water. Recycled water is also known as reclaimed water.
"Reference evapotranspiration (ETo)" means a standard measurement of environmental parameters that affect the water use of plants, and is an estimate of the evapotranspiration of a large field of four- to seven-inch tall, cool-season grass that is properly watered.
"Rehabilitated landscape" means any re-landscaping project.
"Runoff" means water that is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied and flows from the landscape area.
"Soils analysis report" means the analysis of a soil sample to determine nutrient content, composition, and other characteristics, including contaminants.
"Special landscape area" means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants, recreation areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, water features using recycled water, and areas dedicated active play such as parks, sports fields, golf courses, where turf provides the playing surface.
"Sprinkler head" or "spray head" means a device that delivers water through a nozzle.
"Station" means an area served by one (1) valve or by a set of valves that operate simultaneously.
"Submeter" means a separate meter that is located on the private side of the water system and is plumbed to measure all water that flows only through the irrigation system. This meter is to be used by the owner to monitor irrigation water use.
"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.
"Valve" means a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system.
"Valve manifold" means a one-piece manifold for use in a sprinkler valve assembly that includes an intake pipe having a water inlet and a plurality of ports adapted for fluid connection to inlets.
"Very low-water-use plants" means plants recognized as very low-water-use by the water use classification of landscape species document (http://ucanr.edu/sites/wucols/), as it currently exists or may be amended in the future. Plant factors may also be obtained from horticultural researchers from academic institutions or nursery industry professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
"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 storm water best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water treatment or storm water retention are not water features and, therefore, are not subject to the water budget calculation.
"Weather-based self-adjusting irrigation controller" means a system component that uses local weather and landscape conditions to automatically adjust irrigation schedules to actual conditions on the site or historical weather data.
"Water Use Classification of Landscape Species Guide (WUCOLS)" means the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species Guide published by the University of California Cooperative Extension, the Department of Water Resources, and the Bureau of Reclamation, as it currently exists or may be amended in the future.
( Ord. No. 6138, § I(Exh. A) , 12-8-2015)