Implementing the New WaterEfficient Landscape Ordinance in Orange

Implementing the New Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance in Orange County Cities, Residents & Applicants Working Together PRESENTED BY

A Few Webinar Items (Fiona) Ø Presentation 45 minutes followed by questions Ø 2 ways to ask questions l l Write in questions Ask over the phone Select your phone method Audio Mode: O Use Telephone O Use Mic & Speakers Plug a headset into your computer Select to see the “Audio PIN”

Today’s Speakers Fiona Sanchez Conservation Manager Irvine Ranch Water District Joe Berg Lacy Kelly Water Use Efficiency Programs Mgr. Executive Director Municipal Water District Orange County League of Cities of Orange County

What We’ll Talk About Ø What is the water efficient landscape ordinance? Ø Why are cities required to implement it? Ø What does it mean for cities? Ø What does it mean for applicants? Ø l Property managers/HOAs l Homeowners l Landscape industry Resources & tools

What Drove the Ordinance State Issues 2006 Natural Drought Regulatory Drought Colorado River Over-Allocation 2008

What Drove the Ordinance State Issues Governor orders drought action TIMELINE AB 325 1990 1992 Original model landscape ordinance requirement AB 2717 2004 Local Ordinance AB 1881 2006 2008 Identified Enacted opportunities regulations for landscape water efficiency Today

Policy Issues That Drove Orange County Ordinance Ø Protect local control and mitigate creating increased layers of government and oversight. Ensure as much simplicity, efficiency and flexibility as possible. Ø Provide for as much consistency among OC cities as possible Ø Minimize complexity and cost of compliance Ø

Stakeholder Input on Ordinance Development 3 large stakeholder groups Ø 5 technical drafting committees Ø Participation process open to the public Ø Participants • OC Division League of Cities Members • City Council Members • City and County Planners • Water Agency Directors and Staff • Building Industry Association • City Attorneys • OC Fire Authority & City Fire Departments • Parks & Recreation • Green Industry

Ordinance Goals Implementation Benefits Ø Meets AB 1881 requirements Ø Ø Succinct ordinance with separate technical guideline documents Promotes water use efficiency on existing & future landscapes Ø Enhances future water supply reliability Ø Eliminates duplicative tasks Ø Promotes regional consistency Ø Design & Construction certification

Ordinance & Guidelines The What Ø Establishes legal criteria and Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) The How Technical document explains how to achieve standards Ø Separate guideline document provides flexibility to incorporate future irrigation technical innovations Ø

Ordinance Components Applicability Ø Projects that require a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review Ø New homeowner-installed or hired landscape contractor and greater than or equal to 5, 000 sq. ft. Ø New and rehabilitated public agency, private development and developer installed single and multi-family landscape projects greater than or equal to 2, 500 sq. ft. MAWA Calculation Landscape installation or rehabilitation Existing landscape Special landscape areas/recycled water ET Adjustment Factor 0. 7 0. 8 1. 0

Exemptions/Considerations Exemptions Ø Landscapes less than 2, 500 sq. ft Ø Homeowner installed or hired projects less than 5, 000 sq. ft Ø Projects that do not require a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review Ø Registered historic sites Ø Ecological restoration projects Ø Public botanic gardens & arboretums

Guidelines Submittal Requirements Ø Ø Landscape Documentation Package l Project Information Sheet l Maximum Applied Water Allowance & Estimated Applied Water Use Calculations l Soil Management Plan l Landscape Design Plan l Irrigation Design Plan l Grading Design Plan (if applicable) Certificate of Design – signed by licensed professional Permit Awarded/Construction Authorized Certificate of Completion Ø Ø Legal language template for self-certification process Certificate of Use or a Permit Final Certifies installation is consistent with landscape documentation package Appendices Ø Ø Ø Reference ETo Table for Orange County’s 3 zones Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet Template Definitions

How Does This Benefit All of Us Water is a huge economic resource Good for economy Ø Saves money Ø Encourages jobs Ø Sustainability benefits Ø

Water Agency Resources for Landscape Industry Ø Irrigation Management Training l l Ø California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) Irrigation Association (IA) Landscape Certification Program l Waterbudgets. com Ø Smart. Timer Rebates Ø Sprinkler Nozzle Rebates

Information Resources MWDOC. COM Municipal Water District of Orange County • Counter-top brochure • Library of all Orange County ordinances • Rebate information OCCITIES. ORG League of California Cities • Library of all Orange County ordinances ALWAYSWATERSMART. COM Irvine Ranch Water District • Rebate information WATER. CA. GOV California Department of Water Resources

Summary Ø California grappling with significant water resource issues Ø Legislation required water efficient landscape ordinance adoption Ø Orange County version provides simplicity, efficiencies & saves costs Ø Requires self-certification Ø Opportunities for water reuse landscape efficiencies identified Ø Ordinance effective January 2010

Thanks for attending! Fiona Sanchez Joe Berg Lacy Kelly Conservation Manager Irvine Ranch Water District Water Use Efficiency Programs Mgr. Municipal Water District of Orange County Executive Director Orange County League of Cities

Questions? Audio Mode: IF USING PHONE O Use Telephone O Use Mic & Speakers IF USING COMPUTER Plug in headset Select to see “Audio PIN”

Information Resources MWDOC. COM Municipal Water District of Orange County • Counter-top brochure • Library of all Orange County ordinances • Rebate information OCCITIES. ORG League of California Cities • Library of all Orange County ordinances ALWAYSWATERSMART. COM Irvine Ranch Water District • Rebate information WATER. CA. GOV California Department of Water Resources