§ 39-90. Design and installation of irrigation systems.

All irrigation systems shall meet the irrigation standards developed pursuant to Section 373.228, Florida Statutes. All landscape areas (excluding single family residences and duplex dwellings, which are subject to the irrigation system design and installation requirements set forth in Section 39-85 of this article) shall be provided with an automatically operating, underground irrigation system designed to have head-to-head coverage (one hundred percent (100%) coverage with one hundred percent (100%) overlap). Drip, trickle, or other low volume or microirrigation systems shall be used for nonturf areas unless the owner demonstrates, and the EPGMD agrees, that the size of the area makes such systems financially infeasible or a tripping hazard associated with these systems has been identified. Irrigation systems shall be designed to minimize application of water to impervious areas.

(a)

Irrigation systems shall use reclaimed (reuse) water, if available, as follows:

(1)

Properties that are more than two and one-half (2½) acres in size shall utilize reclaimed (reuse) water, if it is provided within nine hundred (900) linear feet from the property, as measured from the property line of the subject property.

(2)

Properties that are one (1) acre up to two and one-half (2½) acres in size shall utilize reclaimed (reuse) water, if it is provided within three hundred (300) linear feet from the property, as measured from the property line of the subject property.

(3)

Sites that are less than one (1) acre in size shall utilize reclaimed (reuse) water, if it is provided within sixty (60) linear feet from the property, as measured from the property line of the subject property.

(b)

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

(c)

Irrigation systems shall be designed to separately serve turf and nonturf areas.

(d)

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

(e)

Irrigation systems shall be designed to consider soil, slope, and other site characteristics in order to minimize water waste, including overspray, the watering of impervious surfaces and other nonvegetated areas, and offsite runoff.

(f)

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

(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 three (3) days; and

(5)

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

(i)

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.

(j)

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

(k)

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

(l)

The system installer shall conduct final testing and adjustments to achieve irrigation system specifications prior to completion of the system installation and acceptance by the owner or owner's representative.

(m)

The system installer shall provide property owners and users with post-construction documentation, including as-built drawings, recommended maintenance activities and schedules, operational schedules, design precipitation rates, instructions on adjusting the system to apply less water after the landscape is established, water source, water shut-off method, and the manufacturer's operational guide for the irrigation controller. Property owners are encouraged to safely store such information and make it available to subsequent property owners.

(n)

All licensed contractors installing or performing work on automatic landscape irrigation systems must comply with the provisions of Section 373.62, Florida Statutes, which may be enforced by the County pursuant to this chapter.

(o)

To assist the end user to operate the system properly, the following should be provided to the owner at the time of installation:

(1)

A plan layout of the system;

(2)

Irrigation scheduling information, with instructions for seasonal timer and sensor changes; and

(3)

An irrigation valve site plan detailing valve locations, gallons per minute demands, precipitation rates, plant types within valve circuits, and operating pressure requirements for each valve.

(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)

Pursuant to Section 373.62, Florida Statutes, rain shut-off switch equipment shall be required on automatic irrigation systems to avoid irrigation during periods of sufficient rainfall or soil moisture. The 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)

The installation of tracer wire along main lines and laterals is strongly encouraged to permit easy location and prevent inadvertent cutting of pipes.

(s)

If the water supply for the irrigation system is from a well, a constant pressure flow control device or pressure tank with adequate capacity shall be required to minimize pump "cycling."

(t)

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

(u)

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

(v)

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

(w)

Irrigated areas shall not be less than four (4) feet wide, except when using micro or drip irrigation.

(x)

A pressure-regulating valve shall be installed and maintained if static service pressure exceeds eighty (80) psi.

(y)

Preserved ecological communities shall not be irrigated after establishment unless required by the EPGMD.

(z)

On lots under five thousand (5,000) square feet in size requiring landscape upgrades, irrigation may be accomplished by the installation and use of hand watering in accordance with current water restrictions.

(Ord. No. 2017-15 , § 12, 5-23-17)