Alachua County Landscape Irrigation Efficiency Code August 25, 2015

Residential Water Use Chart Source: AWWA 1999

Water Use There are at least 14,000 landscape irrigation systems within Alachua County Average daily water use in newer homes:  358 gallons- with irrigation system  190 gallons- without irrigation 90% of new homes (in GRU’s service area) have irrigation systems

Reducing Outdoor Water Use Public education – Television commercial – Facebook posts/contests Irrigation schedule restrictions Change development trends – Florida Water Star Program Proposed landscape irrigation efficiency code

Proposed Landscape Irrigation Efficiency Code Landscaping Efficient Irrigation

Stakeholder Outreach Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) Liaison meetings ( ) Presentations at stakeholder meetings Joint City/County Water Policy Committee (4/13/15) League of Cities Meeting (5/26/15) County Manager letter (6/1/15) and (7/9/15) to City Managers (6/1/15) Hawthorne (7/7/15), High Springs (7/9/15), Newberry (7/13/15), Alachua (7/27/15), Gainesville (8/6/15) Public workshop with cities (8/5/15)

Intent Reduce discretionary outdoor water use Improve water quality by reducing lawn chemical pollution from inefficient irrigation

Water Quality Numerous water bodies in Alachua are impaired by nitrogen and phosphorus Residential fertilizer is one of the main sources Proper irrigation management is key to reducing nutrient pollution Photo by John Moran - May 2012

Jurisdiction and Applicability Applies within Alachua County (including municipalities) All new residential/commercial irrigation systems (including open space and common areas) Does not apply to temporary irrigation for establishment or to Florida Water Star Certified properties

Alachua County Charter Voter approved referendum November 11, 2000 amended County Charter Establishes County authority to set minimum standards for air and water resources protection Recognizes city authority to establish stricter standards

Irrigation Professional Registration All irrigation professionals installing and/or maintaining irrigation systems must register with Alachua County by November 1, – Business name, contact information, certifications – No registration fee proposed

Irrigation System Approval All new irrigation systems require County approval Proposed effective date March 1, 2016 Submit completed Application Review Form, irrigation site sketch, and fee County will review and send approval letter System inspection

Irrigation System Inspection All new systems must be inspected by one of these methods: A.Self inspection by irrigation contractors with Irrigation Specialty Contractor Licensure by the State of Florida or by Florida Water Star Accredited Professional, or B.3 rd Party Inspection by Florida Water Star Certifiers, or C.Inspection by Alachua County (inspection fee required)

High volume irrigation shall not exceed 60% of landscaped area (applicable on lots over 1/8 acre). Maximum irrigated area of residential lots shall not exceed 0.5 acres. Design Standards Spray head Rotor

No high volume for trees and shrubs Separate zones for spray heads and rotors Separate zones for turf and mulched areas Pressure regulating spray heads No overspray to impervious areas Design Standards

Completion of Installation Irrigation professionals must conduct final testing Must provide property owner with: – Site sketch – Self inspection form – Manual for irrigation controller – Maintenance schedule and recommendations

Maintenance of Irrigation Systems Annual inspections for leaks and performance Rainfall shut off devices properly functioning Irrigation systems with known leaks shall not be operated until corrected Systems must be re-adjusted to meet irrigation timing restrictions 60 days after installation

Exemptions Agricultural activities Vegetable gardens and fruit trees Athletic Fields, golf courses, cemeteries 2010 Groundwater data for Alachua County (USGS)

Alternative Compliance Consideration of alternative compliance methods for unique site features, innovative design, or extraordinary hardship

Code Implementation County will offer training opportunities for local irrigation professionals. Violations of the code will lead to written warnings, fines, and possibly court appearances. Retrofitting of non-compliant irrigation systems may be required to achieve compliance.

Penalties Per provisions of Chapter 162 – Civil Citations* – Codes Enforcement Board *Funds go to the Clerk and may not be used to offset program costs

Program Costs $35,500 proposed re-allocation of existing EPD staff and operating budget included in FY16 budget. Review and inspection fees revenue will off set a portion of program expenses.

Return on Investment Water utility bill savings will offset start up costs Estimated $700 - $1000 per yard for more efficient irrigation and landscaping Estimated 2 to 3 year payback period Property owner may choose to install higher value landscaping that is not required by the Code

Projected Annual Water Use Reductions (MGD) For New Residential Construction Assumptions: 5% annual growth in construction from 2014 baseline. 90% of new residential sites have irrigation. 60% savings of traditional baseline water use.

Planning NOW, so there is adequate water for the future. California Drought Photo Credit: NY Times

Staff Recommendation Adopt the Landscape Irrigation Efficiency Code

2013 New Construction Statistics (Property Appraiser data) 467 Single Family Residential – 55% in Alachua County – 18% in Gainesville – 11% in Newberry – 10% in Alachua (City of) – 6% other 22 Multifamily 13 Commercial

The Law F.S.  Department of Environmental Protection and the Water Management Districts worked with stakeholders to develop standards for landscape irrigation and Florida Friendly Landscape design.  Local governments must use these standards when adopting local ordinances.

Background Reclaimed water has high levels of nutrients and is commonly used as a source for irrigation, furthering the need for irrigation standards. The proposed code would incentivize the state’s voluntary irrigation license, raising professionalism and ensuring that installers are familiar with BMPs for protecting water.

Background  A voluntary state irrigation license was developed in 2013 and the industry is still pushing for mandatory licensing.  Alachua County does not require a County license and does not have a licensing board.  Over 30 Florida counties regulate irrigation contractors by requiring a certificate of competency.

Landscape Irrigation Systems