§ 12-398. Design and installation of irrigation systems.

All irrigation systems installed after the effective date of this division shall meet the irrigation standards identified in F.S. § 373.228, as amended. All landscape areas, excluding single-family residences, shall be provided with an automatically operating, underground irrigation system designed to have head-to-head coverage (100 percent coverage with 100 percent overlap). Drip, trickle or other low-volume or microirrigation systems shall be permitted if designated on approved landscape plans. Irrigation systems shall be designed to minimize application of water to impervious areas.

(A)

Irrigation systems shall be designed to meet the needs of the plants in the landscape.

(B)

When feasible, irrigation systems shall be designed to separately serve turf and non-turf areas.

(C)

The irrigation system plans and specifications shall identify the materials to be used and the construction methods.

(D)

The design shall consider soil, slope, and other site characteristics in order to minimize water waste, including overspray, the watering of impervious surfaces and other non-vegetated areas, and off-site runoff.

(E)

The system shall be designed to minimize free flow conditions in case of damage or other mechanical failure.

(F)

The system shall be designed to use the lowest quality water available at the time of the installation.

(G)

A recommended seasonal operating schedule and average precipitation rates for each irrigation zone for both establishment and maintenance conditions shall be provided.

(H)

Control systems shall provide the following minimum capabilities:

(1)

Ability to be programmed in minutes, by day of week, season and time of day;

(2)

Ability to accommodate multiple start times and programs;

(3)

Automatic shut off after adequate rainfall or detection of adequate soil moisture;

(4)

Ability to maintain time during power outages for a minimum of 3 days; and

(5)

Operational flexibility to meet applicable year-round water conservation requirements and temporary water shortage restrictions.

(I)

Recommended maintenance activities and schedules shall be provided.

(J)

Precipitation rates for sprinklers and all other emitters in the same zone shall be matched, except that microirrigation emitters may be specified to meet the requirements of individual plants.

(K)

Irrigation systems shall be designed to maximize uniformity, considering factors such as emitter types, head spacing, sprinkler pattern, and water pressure at the emitter.

(L)

Irrigation systems with main lines larger than 2 inches or designed to supply more than 70 gallons per minute shall incorporate a means to measure irrigation water use, at a minimum of 95 percent accuracy across the flow range.

(M)

Irrigation system plans and specifications shall require the system installer to conduct final testing and adjustments to achieve design specifications prior to completion of the system and acceptance by the owner or owner's representative.

(N)

Irrigation system plans and specifications shall require that the installer provide property owners and users with the following post-construction documentation, including as-constructed drawings, recommended maintenance activities and schedules, operational schedule, design precipitation rates, instructions on adjusting the system to apply less water after the landscape is established, maintenance schedule, water source, water shut-off method, and the manufacturer's operational guide for their irrigation controller. To the extent feasible, similar information should be made available for subsequent property transfers.

(O)

By January 1, 2011, all licensed contractors installing or performing work on automatic landscape irrigation systems must comply with the provisions of F.S. § 373.62, as amended.

(P)

The irrigation system shall be designed to correlate to the organization of plants into hydrozones. These hydrozones shall be shown on the irrigation plan, as required. All plants require watering during establishment. Temporary facilities may be installed to facilitate establishment. Irrigation must be conducted in accordance with South Florida Water Management District restrictions. If local water restrictions are more restrictive, then irrigation must be conducted in accordance with the stricter restrictions.

(Q)

Rain shut-off switch equipment shall be required on automatic irrigation systems to avoid irrigation during periods of sufficient rainfall or soil moisture pursuant to F.S. § 373.62, as amended.

Said equipment shall consist of an automatic mechanical or electronic sensing device or switch that will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred.

(R)

Check valves must be installed at irrigation heads as needed to prevent low head drainage and puddling.

(S)

Nozzle precipitation rates for all heads within each valve circuit must be matched to within 20 percent of one another.

(T)

No water spray from irrigation systems shall be applied under roof overhangs.

(U)

Irrigated areas shall not be less than 4 feet wide, except when next to contiguous property or using micro or drip irrigation.

(V)

A pressure-regulating valve shall be installed and maintained if static service pressure exceeds 80 pounds per square inch.

(Ord. 253, passed 9-13-2010)