Page 8 - Efficient Irrigation and Landscape Design Standards

2
T h e r e i s n o o n e -s i z e -fi t s -a l l a p p r o a c h t o a p p l y i n g w a t e r e ffi c i e n t l a n d s c a p e s t a n d a r d s a n d thecommunitiesadoptingthem shouldthinkabouttheirexistinglandscapingstandards and theirapplicability.Enacting waterefficientrequirementsforresidentialdevelopmentwill likelybemetwith resistance.However,sinceresidentialirrigation useaccountsforthehighest amountofannualwaterdemand,itwillbecriticalto addresswaterefficiencyin residential zones in the future.
2.1 THRESHOLDS
Depending on the jurisdiction, landscape applicability standards may already exist, that will need to be reviewed in implementing water efficient landscape standards. The applicability section will describe which and what kinds of development actions must comply with the water efficient standards. Consider implementing a structured time frame that adopts irrigation efficiency applicability for the following types of projects in five-year increments:
• New construction and rehabilitated landscapes of:
» Public agency projects
» Commercial/industrial development
» Single-family and multi-family projects by a developer » Single-family on lots of record
• Existing landscapes (with criteria for remodels or renovated landscape greater than a minimum area)
APPLICABILITY
The most difficult category of new construction to implement stems from the facts that there are no design standards and that irrigation/landscape plans are not currently required for single-family residences. Residential homes account for the bulk of peak demand water use in summer months. In addition, most residential irrigation systems are poorly designed, installed, and maintained due to the lack of standards. This leads residential systems to have typically less than 40% efficiency in the system’s water use.
When adding any of the included sections of this guide to a local ordinance, the implementation procedures should be aligned with the local jurisdiction’s existing procedures and regulations.
Implementation of a water efficient irrigation and landscape ordinance should occur through the building permit process and there may be a minimum threshold project size for which it applies.
The adopting jurisdiction or agency should evaluate appropriate thresholds for when these standards are triggered. Several local jurisdictions within the SVRP aquifer already specify a minimum size of the landscape area
for when the landscape ordinance applies. As a practical matter, this size threshold would only apply generally when development permits or review is required. In many instances, this means that activities that do not require a development permit are not reviewed under the landscape provisions.
8 IDAHO WASHINGTON AQUIFER COLLABORATIVE