§ 4-160. Definitions.

Unless otherwise expressly stated or clearly indicated by the context, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings indicated in this section:

Air gap means a complete physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipeline and an open or nonpressure receiving vessel.

Atmospheric vacuum breaker means an assembly containing an air inlet valve, a check seat, and an air inlet port. The flow of water into the body causes the air inlet valve to close the air inlet port. When the flow of water stops the air inlet valve falls and forms a check against back-siphonage. At the same time it opens the air inlet port allowing air to enter and satisfy the vacuum. Atmospheric vacuum breaker is also known as an atmospheric vacuum breaker back-siphonage prevention assembly.

Automatic controller means a solid state timer capable of operating valve stations to set the days, time of day, and length of time water is applied.

Backflow prevention means the mechanical prevention of reverse flow, or back siphonage, of nonpotable water from an irrigation system into the potable water source.

Backflow prevention assembly means any assembly used to prevent backflow into a potable water system. The type of assembly used is based on the existing or potential degree of health hazard and backflow condition.

Building official means the building official or designated representative.

City means the City of Copperas Cove, Texas.

City Code means the Code of Ordinances of the City of Copperas Cove, Texas,

Completion of irrigation system installation means when the landscape irrigation system has been installed, all minimum standards met, all tests performed, and the irrigator is satisfied that the system is operating correctly.

Consulting means the act of providing advice, guidance, review or recommendations related to landscape irrigation systems.

Cross-connection means actual or potential connection between a potable water source and an irrigation system that may contain contaminates or pollutants or any source of water that has been treated to a lesser degree in the treatment process.

Design means the act of determining the various elements of a landscape irrigation system that will include, but not be limited to, elements such as collecting site specific information, defining the scope of the project, defining plant watering needs, selecting and laying out emission devices, locating system components, conducting hydraulics calculations, identifying any local regulatory requirements, or scheduling irrigation work at a site. Completion of the various components will result in an irrigation plan.

Design pressure means the pressure that is required for an emission device to operate properly. Design pressure is calculated by adding the operating pressure necessary at an emission device to the total of all pressure losses accumulated from an emission device to the water source.

Double check valve means an assembly that is composed of two (2) independently acting, approved check valves, including tightly closed resilient seated shutoff valves attached at each end of the assembly and fitted with properly located resilient seated test cocks. Double check valve is also known as a double check valve backflow prevention assembly.

Emission device means any device that is contained within an irrigation system and that is used to apply water. Common emission devices in an irrigation system include, but are not limited to, spray and rotary sprinkler heads, and drip irrigation emitters.

Employed means engaged or hired to provide consulting services or perform any activity relating to the sale, design, installation, maintenance, alteration, repair, or service to irrigation systems. A person is employed if that person is in an employer-employee relationship as defined by Internal Revenue Code, 26 United States Code Service, § 3212(d) based on the behavioral control, financial control, and the type of relationship involved in performing employment related tasks.

Head-to-head spacing means the spacing of spray or rotary heads equal to the manufacturer's published radius of the head.

Health hazard means a cross-connection or potential cross-connection with an irrigation system that involves any substance that may, if introduced into the potable water supply, cause death or illness, spread disease, or have a high probability of causing such effects.

Hydraulics means the science of dynamic and static water; the mathematical computation of determining pressure losses and pressure requirements of an irrigation system.

Inspector means a licensed plumbing inspector, water district operator, other governmental entity, or irrigation inspector designated by the regulatory authority to inspect irrigation systems and perform other enforcement duties for the city as an employee or as a contractor.

Installer means a person who actually connects an irrigation system to a private or public raw or potable water supply system or any water supply, who is licensed according to Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 30 (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registrations).

Irrigation inspector means a person who has been designated by the regulatory authority to inspect irrigation systems and perform other enforcement duties for the city as an employee or as a contractor. Such person is required to be licensed under Chapter 30 of Title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registrations).

Irrigation plan means a scaled drawing of a landscape irrigation system which lists required information, the scope of the project, and represents the changes made in the installation of the irrigation system.

Irrigation services mean selling, designing, installing, maintaining, altering, repairing, servicing, permitting, providing consulting services regarding, or connecting an irrigation system to a water supply.

Irrigation system means an assembly of component parts that is permanently installed for the controlled distribution and conservation of water to irrigate any type of landscape vegetation in any location, and/or to reduce dust or control erosion. This term does not include a system that is used on or by an agricultural operation as defined by Section 251.002, Texas Agricultural Code, V.T.C.A.

Irrigation technician means a person who works under the supervision of a licensed irrigator to install, maintain, alter, repair, service or supervise installation of an irrigation system, including the connection of such system in or to a private or public, raw or potable water supply system or any water supply, and who is required to be licensed under Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 30 (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registrations).

Irrigation zone means a subdivision of an irrigation system with a matched precipitation rate based on plant material type (such as turf, shrubs, or trees), microclimate factors (such as sun/shade ratio), topographic features (such as slope) and soil conditions (such as sand, loam, clay, or combination) or for hydrological control.

Irrigator means a person who sells, designs, offers consultations regarding, installs, maintains, alters, repairs, services or supervises the installation of an irrigation system, including the connection of such system to a private or public, raw or potable water supply system or any water supply, and who is required to be licensed under Title 30, Chapter 30, Texas Administrative Code, V.T.C.A.

Irrigator-in-charge means the irrigator responsible for all irrigation work performed by an exempt business owner, including, but not limited to obtaining permits, developing design plans, supervising the work of other irrigators or irrigation technicians, and installing, selling, maintaining, altering, repairing, or servicing a landscape irrigation system.

Isolation valve means a valve that is installed between the water meter and the backflow prevention device.

Landscape irrigation means the science of applying the necessary amount of water to promote or sustain healthy growth of plant material or turf.

License means an occupational license that is issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality under Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 30, to an individual that authorizes the individual to engage in an activity that is covered by Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 30.

Mainline means a pipe within an irrigation system that delivers water from the water source to the individual zone valves.

Maintenance checklist means a document made available to the irrigation system's owner or owner's representative that contains information regarding the operation and maintenance of the irrigation system, including, but not limited to: checking and repairing the irrigation system, setting the automatic controller, checking the rain or moisture sensor, cleaning filters, pruning grass and plants away from irrigation emitters, using and operating the irrigation system, the precipitation rates of each irrigation zone within the system, any water conservation measures currently in effect from the City of Copperas Cove Water Utilities Department, a suggested seasonal or monthly watering schedule based on current evapotranspiration data for the North Central Texas geographic region, and the minimum water requirements for the plant material in each zone based on the soil type and plant material where the system is installed.

Major maintenance, alteration, repair, or service means any activity that involves opening to the atmosphere the irrigation main line at any point prior to the discharge side of any irrigation zone control valve. This includes, but is not limited to, repairing or connecting into a mainline, replacing a zone control valve, or repairing a zone control valve in a manner that opens the system to the atmosphere.

Master valve means a remote control valve located after the backflow prevention device that controls the flow of water to the irrigation system mainline.

Matched precipitation rate means the condition in which all sprinkler heads within an irrigation zone apply water at the same rate. "New installation" means an irrigation system installed at a location where one did not previously exist.

Non-health hazard means a cross connection or potential cross connection from a landscape irrigation system that involves any substance that generally would not be a health hazard but would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable if introduced into the potable water supply.

Non-potable water means water that is not suitable for human consumption. Non-potable water sources included, but are not limited to, irrigation systems, lakes, ponds, streams, gray water that is discharged from washing machines, dishwashers or other appliances, water vapor condensate from cooling towers, reclaimed water, and harvested rainwater.

Pass-through contract means a written contract between a contractor or builder and a licensed irrigator or exempt business owner to perform part or all of the irrigation services relating to an irrigation system.

Person means any natural person, association of persons, partnership, corporation, agent or officer, or other entity.

Potable water means water that is suitable for human consumption.

Pressure vacuum breaker means an assembly containing an independently operating internally loaded check valve and an independently operating loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. Pressure vacuum breaker is also known as a pressure vacuum breaker back-siphonage prevention assembly.

Reclaimed water means domestic or municipal wastewater which has been treated to a quality suitable for beneficial use, such as landscape irrigation.

Records of landscape irrigation activities means the irrigation plans, contracts, warranty information, invoices, copies of permits, and other documents that relate to the installation, maintenance, alteration, repair, or service of a landscape irrigation system.

Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly means an assembly containing two (2) independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the two (2) check valves and below the first check valve.

Regulatory authority shall be a license plumbing inspector or a license irrigation inspector.

Static water pressure means the pressure of water when it is not moving.

Supervision means the on-the-job oversight and direction by a licensed irrigator who is fulfilling his or her professional responsibility to the client and/or employer in compliance with local or state requirements. Supervision also means a licensed installer working under the direction of a licensed irrigator or beginning January 1, 2009, an irrigation technician who is working under the direction of a licensed irrigator to install, maintain, alter, repair or service an irrigation system.

Turfgrass means grass that, when regularly mowed, forms a dense growth of leaf blades and roots.

Water conservation means the design, installation, service, and operation of an irrigation system in a manner that prevents the waste of water, promotes the most efficient use of water, and applies the least amount of water that is required to maintain healthy individual plant material or turf, reduce dust, and control erosion.

Zone flow means a measurement, in gallons per minute or gallons per hour, of the actual flow of water through a zone valve, calculated by individually opening each zone valve and obtaining a valid reading after the pressure has stabilized. For design purposes, the zone flow is the total flow of all nozzles in the zone at a specific pressure.

Zone valve means an automatic valve that controls a single zone of a landscape irrigation system.

(Ord. No. 2010-48, § 1(Exh. A), 11-2-10)