Staff Report and WELO Ordinance - StopWaste.Org

Staff also recommends that if grey water is ever used in irrigation that it be applied withlow-volume irrigation. Grey water is non-toilet, non-kitchen-sink wastewater recycled forirrigation use. Such systems are not currently in use in Livermore but could be proposedin the future. Therefore, staff recommends allowing for the possibility of grey water use inirrigation but requiring low volume irrigation to avoid aerosolizing grey water with higherpressure spray.Grading DesignProposed Section 13.25.060(F) covers grading design.Staff recommends incorporating a topsoil protection provision indicated as important byStopWaste.org (Section 13.25.070(F)(3)) and recommended by the local USDA soilscientist. Topsoil stockpiling is a relatively simple way to utilize existing site resources, asthe top few inches of native soil are usually richer in biomass, texture and nutrientsconducive to plant growth, instead of allowing it to be "lost in the shuffle" of development.Landscape Irrigation Installation CertificationThe above described landscape design components would be reviewed for compliancewith the ordinance as part of a permit application. Following compliance, a permit can beissued.The proposed City ordinance is consistent with the State model by requiring a signedverification that the landscape and irrigation system that is installed is consistent with thedesign approved pursuant to the permit and is, therefore, water efficient (see Section13.25.070). Staff consulted with irrigation auditors and irrigation maintenance companiesto inform the proposed code text. The verification requirements are to be completed by aqualified irrigation professional and include an evaluation of the irrigation system toensure it is properly installed; that scheduling programming is tailored to the landscape,and that key provisions of the irrigation design requirements are met.Public EducationThe 1992 and 2009 State model ordinances require cities to make water conservationinformation available to residents and that model home complexes make available detailsabout the water conserving aspects of the development to potential homebuyers. Theseprovisions are in proposed Section 13.25.080.Staff also recommends requiring model home complexes provide homebuyers thecontroller manual, a diagram of the home's landscape plant palette and irrigation system,and a copy of StopWaste.Org's Bay-Friendly Gardening Guide, or an equivalentinformation source describing environmentally sustainable landscape design, irrigation,soil management, and maintenance practices.813