Chapter 17.07
WATER EFFICIENCY STANDARDS

Sections:

17.07.010    Purpose.

17.07.020    Interior standards.

17.07.030    Exterior standards.

17.07.010 Purpose.

The City of Poway has determined that the City’s water resources are in limited supply. Accordingly, water conservation must be promoted. These interior water use and exterior water use standards will help to achieve water conservation, enable effective water supply planning, assure reasonable and beneficial use of water, prevent waste of water, and prevent unreasonable use of water within the City of Poway in order to assure adequate supplies of water to meet the needs of the public, and further the public health, safety, and welfare, recognizing that water is a scarce natural resource that requires careful management not only in times of drought, but at all times. (Ord. 704 § 3, 2010)

17.07.020 Interior standards.

All new construction projects that involve the issuance of a City building permit for any new plumbing fixtures shall comply with the water efficiency and conservation standards for plumbing fixtures contained in the mandatory residential standards (Chapter 4, Division 4.3) or the mandatory nonresidential standards (Chapter 5, Division 5.3), as applicable based on project type, of the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code. For additions and/or remodels to existing buildings, this shall apply only to proposed new plumbing fixtures. (Ord. 704 § 3, 2010)

17.07.030 Exterior standards.

All new construction projects that meet the applicability criteria specified in PMC 17.41.040(A), unless specifically exempted pursuant to PMC 17.41.040(B), shall reduce the project’s maximum applied water allowance (MAWA), as defined in PMC 17.41.030 and as calculated pursuant to PMC 17.41.130, by a minimum of 10 percent. The 10 percent reduction in the project’s MAWA shall be achieved by one or a combination of the following methods:

A. Landscape and Irrigation Design. The 10 percent reduction, or a portion of the 10 percent reduction, may be achieved through implementation of a very efficient landscape and irrigation plan, designed in accordance with the standards contained in Chapter 17.41 PMC and the 2010 Landscape and Irrigation Design Manual, and to be demonstrated through the applicant’s calculation of the project’s estimated total water use, as defined in PMC 17.41.140.

B. Other Water Conserving Features. The 10 percent reduction, or a portion of the 10 percent reduction, may be achieved through the implementation of other water conserving features in the project, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Any residential voluntary measures (Appendix A4, Division A4.3), or nonresidential voluntary measures (Appendix A5, Division A5.3), as applicable based on project type, of the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code;

2. Pool covers;

3. Grey water systems;

4. Well water use.

The applicant shall be responsible for providing information to the Development Services Department that demonstrates the estimated amount of water conservation achieved with other water conservation feature or features to be implemented in the project. The Development Services Department shall verify the estimate for accuracy. The applicant shall have the ability to appeal any decision made by the Development Services Department regarding the accuracy of the estimated water conservation to the Director of Development Services.

C. Voluntary Payment of a Water Offset Fee. The 10 percent reduction, or a portion of the 10 percent reduction, may be achieved through payment of a water offset fee. The fee is calculated as shown in the following formula:

Portion of additional 10% conservation which is not achieved	X	Average cost/square foot for conversion projects ($8.67)
Average gallons saved/square foot for conversion projects (34.5 gal.)

(Ord. 704 § 3, 2010)