§ 18.47.090. Irrigation standards.  


Latest version.
  • A.

    Irrigation systems shall be installed in accordance with the standards and requirements of the irrigation equipment manufacturer, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the International Plumbing Code, and as may be amended, and all applicable regulations and laws.

    B.

    The source of irrigation water, whether potable or reclaimed, as provided by the City of El Paso water utilities, shall be indicated on the irrigation plans.

    C.

    When using a potable irrigation water source, an approved backflow prevention device shall be installed in accordance with the City of El Paso Plumbing Code.

    D.

    No irrigation design or installation shall require the use of any component, including the water meter, in a way which exceeds the manufacturer's published performance limitations for the component.

    E.

    Spacing.

    (1)

    The maximum spacing between emission devices must not exceed the manufacturer's published radius or spacing of the device(s). The radius or spacing is determined by referring to the manufacturer's published specifications for a specific emission device at a specific operating pressure.

    (2)

    New irrigation systems shall not utilize above-ground spray emission devices in residential or commercial landscapes that are less than forty-eight inches not including the impervious surfaces in either length or width and which contain impervious pedestrian or vehicular traffic surfaces along two or more perimeters. If pop-up sprays or rotary sprinkler heads are used in a new irrigation system, the sprinkler heads must direct flow away from any adjacent surface and shall not be installed closer than four inches from a hardscape, such as, but not limited to, a building foundation, fence, concrete, asphalt, pavers, or stones set with mortar.

    (3)

    Narrow paved walkways, jogging paths, golf cart paths or other small areas located in cemeteries, parks, golf courses or other public areas may be exempted from this requirement if the runoff drains into a landscaped area.

    F.

    All irrigation systems shall include:

    1.

    An automatic controller with multiple programs, multiple repeat cycle capabilities and a flexible calendar program. Power may be provided by either electricity or solar for all commercial applications, Residential may be powered by battery. Manuel systems shall no longer be approved after January 1, 2012.

    2.

    Spray head type irrigation systems may be used in planting beds when:

    i.

    Plant material spaced less than eighteen inches center to center.

    ii.

    Spray head system are evenly spaced to achieve head to head coverage.

    G.

    Spray heads shall not be used in the following locations:

    1.

    Parkways;

    2.

    Medians;

    3.

    In areas less than ten feet in any dimension; and

    4.

    On slopes exceeding twenty percent.

    H.

    Drip and spray systems shall:

    1.

    Be placed on separate valves;

    2.

    All components on drip systems shall be measured in gallons per hour.

    I.

    Wiring and sleeving:

    1.

    All wire shall be direct burial. Multi-strand shall not be allowed for direct burial;

    2.

    Irrigation piping and wiring installed under any hardscaped areas shall be within sleeving.

    J.

    Storm retention pond areas that are irrigated shall incorporate, in the design, separate valves for the basin and slope areas. A moisture sensor shall be installed in the basin.

    K.

    Flood irrigation water from a water improvement district is not an approved method of irrigation, and shall not satisfy the requirements of this chapter.

    L.

    Water pressure. Emission devices must be installed to operate at the minimum and not above the maximum sprinkler head pressure as published by the manufacturer for the nozzle and head spacing that is used. Methods to achieve the water pressure requirements include, but are not limited to, flow control valves, a pressure regulator, or pressure compensating spray heads.

    M.

    Piping. Piping in irrigation systems must be designed and installed so that the flow of water in the pipe will not exceed a velocity of five feet per second for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe.

    N.

    Irrigation zones. Irrigation systems shall have separate zones based on plant material type, microclimate factors, topographic features, soil conditions, and hydrological requirements.

    O.

    Master valve. When provided, a master valve shall be installed on the discharge side of the backflow prevention device on all new installations.

    P.

    PVC pipe primer solvent. All new irrigation systems that are installed using PVC pipe and fittings shall be primed with a colored primer prior to applying the PVC cement in accordance with the International Plumbing Code (Section 605).

    Q.

    Isolation valve. All new irrigation systems must include an isolation valve between the water meter and the backflow prevention device.

    R.

    Pipe installation standard.

    1.

    If the manufacturer has not published specifications for depth coverage of piping, the piping must be installed to provide minimum depth coverage of six inches of select backfill, between the top of the pipe and the natural grade of the topsoil. All portions of the irrigation system that fail to meet this standard must be noted on the irrigation plan. If the area being irrigated has rock at a depth of six inches or less, select backfill may be mounded over the pipe. Mounding must be noted on the irrigation plan and discussed with the irrigation system owner or owner's representative to address any safety issues.

    2.

    If a utility, man-made structure, or roots create an unavoidable obstacle, which makes the six-inch depth coverage requirement impractical, the piping shall be installed to provide a minimum of two inches of select backfill between the top of the pipe and the natural grade of the topsoil.

    3.

    All trenches and holes created during installation of an irrigation system must be backfilled and compacted to the original grade.

    S.

    Water contained within the piping of an irrigation system is deemed to be non- potable. No drinking or domestic water usage, such as, but not limited to, filling swimming pools or decorative fountains, shall be connected to an irrigation system. If a hose bib (an outdoor water faucet that has hose threads on the spout) is connected to an irrigation system for the purpose of providing supplemental water to an area, the hose bib must be installed using a quick coupler key on a quick coupler installed in a covered purple valve box and the hose bib any hoses connected to the bib must be labeled "non-potable, not safe for drinking." An isolation valve must be installed upstream of a quick coupler connecting a hose bib to an irrigation system.

    T.

    Beginning January 1, 2010, either a licensed irrigator or a licensed irrigation technician shall be on-site at all times while the landscape irrigation system is being installed. When an irrigator is not onsite, the irrigator shall be responsible for ensuring that a licensed irrigation technician is on-site to supervise the installation of the irrigation system.

(Ord. No. 17900, § 4, 10-30-2012)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 17900, § 4, adopted October 30, 2012, amended § 18.47.090 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 18.47.090, pertained to design and installation: minimum requirements, and derived from Ord. No. 17041, § 1, 12-23-2008.