Agenda Item Name:
Title
Presentation on Proposed Changes to Codes Related to Landscape Irrigation and Water Conservation
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Presenter:
Stacie Greco, 352-264-6829
Description:
The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is proposing to edit three existing articles and definitions to improve water conservation and water quality protection efforts. Staff are also requesting a letter from the Board regarding issues with landscape irrigation wells.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Listen to staff presentation and authorize advertisement of an adoption hearing. Approve Chair Letter on landscape irrigation wells.
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Prior Board Motions:
During the 4/26/22 Regular Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) meeting, EPD staff provided an update on our water conservation programs. A unanimous motion was passed requesting staff to bring back the Irrigation Design Code with improvements.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Staff are proposing the creation of the Alachua County Water Conservation Fund, which is to be supervised and used by EPD for water conservation and resilient landscaping projects and programs to the extent money is available in the fund. The fund shall consist of all money recovered by the county in an action against any person who is found in violation of these articles.
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Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Environment
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Background:
Public Supply is the largest water use in Alachua County and is largely driven by residential water use. Landscape irrigation accounts for almost 60% of residential water use and is the main focus of EPD’s current educational and regulatory efforts. The 2015 Landscape Irrigation Design Code (Chapter 77 Article VI) created an approval and inspection process for all new permanent landscape irrigation within unincorporated Alachua County. This code was expanded to include the municipalities in 2019 and a requirement for smart irrigation controllers or soil moisture sensors. A recent analysis by the University of Florida (UF) Program for Resource Efficient Communities did not show significant water savings. Through irrigation inspections, tune-up, and analysis of water use data, it is evident that permanent irrigation drives up water use and that reducing the area of permanent irrigation is the key to saving water. Staff are proposing changes to the Irrigation Design Code to improve efficacy and to create a water conservation fund for fines collected for non-compliance.
Staff is also recommending changes to Article VIII Springs and High Aquifer Recharge Code, as the proposed changes to the Irrigation Design Code would create conflicting requirements. The final proposed code revisions are to Article VII Homeowner Association Florida Friendly Landscaping Design Standards. A provision has been added that all Homeowner Associations (HOA’s) that are governed by deed restrictions or covenants must keep a current contact on file with Alachua County. Having HOA contact information will improve compliance and educational efforts.
In working with various stakeholders, it became evident that decisions about irrigation and landscaping need to happen in the planning phase of new developments. Staff will discuss future plans for changes to the Landscaping Code and the potential for requiring water conservation plans during the development review process within unincorporated Alachua County.
Tiered water pricing is an effective tool for decreasing water use, but it is limited when high water users install landscape irrigation wells to avoid resultant high-water bills. Equally concerning is the lack of data concerning irrigation wells and the fact that this use is not included in water use projections and water use planning. Staff will outline these issues and requests that the Board approve the provided Chair letter to the Executive Directors of the St. Johns and Suwannee River Water Management Districts and to the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.