July 16,2015-
from ACWA
The California Water Commission today adopted a revised model landscape ordinance that requires yards and commercial landscapes installed in California after Dec. 1 to use up to a third less water on average.
The new model ordinance, developed by the California Department of Water Resources, limits lawns in commercial settings to uses such as recreation and public assembly, requires efficient sprinkler nozzles in landscape irrigation systems and, with some exceptions, bans turf in street medians and parkways.
Joe Byrne, chair of the CWC, said adoption of the ordinance “is an important step in ensuring that California’s future growth will respect the necessity to conserve the state’s water resources,” according to the press release from DWR.
All told, the newly adopted ordinance is expected to reduce the water use of a new home by 12,000 gallons a year, or 20%. Water use on new commercial landscapes will be cut by approximately 35%, according to the DWR release.
The new measure, called the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, can be used by cities, counties and other land-use agencies as a guide in developing their own ordinances that fit local conditions but match or exceed the efficiency of the DWR version. State law requires all land-use agencies to adopt a water-efficient landscape ordinance that is at least as efficient as the model ordinance prepared by DWR. DWR’s model ordinance takes effect in those cities and counties that fail to adopt their own. Land-use agencies also will be required to report on ordinance adoption and enforcement each year.
The emergency executive order issued by Gov. Jerry Brown on April 1 directed DWR to revise an existing model landscape ordinance to step up water conservation. DWR developed the revised ordinance, then held public workshops on the revisions and conducted a 15-day public comment period. Input received during that period resulted in changes to the ordinance adopted today, officials said in a statement.
Changes from the previous model ordinance include reduction in the square footage above which landscape projects are subject to the ordinance. The threshold size was reduced from 2,500 square feet to 500 square feet for new residential, commercial, industrial and institutional projects. The average residential lot size in California is roughly 2,500 square feet.
DWR’s revision includes a prescriptive checklist as an option for compliance for landscapes less than 2,500 square feet, such as prohibiting turf in non-residential areas and in the areas between street curbs and sidewalks that are less than 10 feet wide, subject to certain conditions. The list also requires compliance with guidelines for the use of automatic sprinklers.
To encourage the reuse of water from sinks, tubs and washing machines called “graywater,” the model ordinance allows landscapes under 2,500 square feet that are irrigated only with graywater or captured rainwater to meet a simple irrigation checklist and not be subject to the entire ordinance.
The revised model ordinance also includes improvements in:
· More efficient irrigation systems;
· Onsite stormwater capture; and
· Mandatory reporting on the implementation and enforcement of the ordinance by local agencies.
The ordinance requirements will take effect Dec. 1 and apply to landscaping built or significantly modified to the point of requiring a local permit, plan check or design review.
A complete description of DWR’s original proposals, public comments and revisions is found here: https://cwc.ca.gov/Documents/2015/07_July/July2015_Agenda_Item_8_Attach_1_Proposed_Revisions_to_MWELO_Final.pdf