Definitions

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Aesthetic Water Use - Water use for ornamental or decorative purposes such as fountains, reflecting pools, and water gardens.

Average Daily Water Demand - The average use of water in a single day expressed in gallons per day calculated by dividing the total volume of water in gallons delivered to the City's water distribution system over a one year period by 365 days.

Buckets - Containers of not more than 5 gallon capacity.

City Manager - Means City Manager of the City of Fredericksburg, and includes his or her designee.

Commercial and Institutional Water Use - Water use which is integral to the operations of commercial or manufacturing establishments and governmental entities such as retail establishments, hotels and motels, restaurants, and office buildings.

Conservation - Those practices, techniques, and technologies that reduce the consumption of water so that a supply is conserved and made available for future use.

Customer - Any person, company, or organization using water supplied by the City of Fredericksburg.

Domestic Water Use - Water use for personal needs or for household or sanitary purposes such as drinking, bathing, heating, cooking, sanitation, washing clothes, or for cleaning the interior of a residence, business, industry, or institution.

Drip Irrigation - means a low volume irrigation system that applies water in gallons per hour and saves water by applying water at low-flow levels directly to the soil and the plant's root zone. Such systems include but are not limited to soaker hoses or drip tape hoses which do not exceed 1/2" in diameter.

Hand-Held - means used or operated while being held in the hand or hands.

Hose - means a common residential garden hose not more than one (1") inch in diameter which includes a positive cut-off nozzle.

Impervious Surface - means patios, pathways and other areas where firm footing is desired, constructed in such a way that does not allow water to penetrate the ground. Examples include, but are not limited to, concrete slabs patios, sidewalks, and driveways, asphalt streets or pavers set with mortar.

Irrigation System - means any water delivery system which delivers water to grass, trees, plants, or any other landscape, whether on a set schedule or not.

Landscape Irrigation Use - Water used for the irrigation and maintenance of landscaped areas, whether publicly or privately owned, including residential and commercial lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, golf courses, parks, and rights-of-way and medians.

Low-Flow - Emission device flow rates that are typically measured in gallons per hour (GPH).

Maximum Daily Water Demand - The largest volume of water in gallons delivered to the City's water distribution system in a single day in the preceding 365 days expressed in gallons per day.

Non-Essential Water Use - Water uses that are not essential or required for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including:

(1) Irrigation of landscaped areas, including parks, athletic fields, common areas and golf courses except with the use of reclaimed or effluent water by separate contract with the City of Fredericksburg.

(2) Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle in Stages 1 through 4;

(3) Use of water to wash down any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surfaced areas;

(4) Use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection;

(5) Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street;

(6) Use of water to fill, refill or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools or Jacuzzi type pools;

(7) Use of water in a fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes except where necessary to support aquatic life without a variance;

(8) Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s); and

(9) Use of water from hydrants for construction purposes or any other purposes other than fire- fighting and flushing of lines to maintain a potable water supply.

Outdoor Irrigation - means supplying water to outdoor areas by any means. Outdoor irrigation may be accomplished only with water from the service/meter on the lot or parcel being irrigated. Wells shall be used to supply water only to the lot or parcel on which they exist.

Person - means any individual, corporation (including a governmental corporation organization, state or federal governmental subdivision or agency, political subdivision of a state, interstate agency or body), business, trust, partnership, association, firm, company, joint venture, commission or any other entity.

Rain Sensor - means a device designed to stop the flow of water to an Irrigation System when rainfall or moisture has been detected. Devices referred to as soil moisture sensor, relative humidity sensor or rain sensor shall qualify as a Rain Sensor for the purposes of this Article.

Waste of Water - means failing to repair a controllable leak, including a broken sprinkler head, a leaking valve, leaking or broken pipes or a leaking faucet. It also includes the following:

(1) Operating a permanently installed irrigation system with:

(a) a broken head,

(b) a head that is out of adjustment where the arc of the spray head is over a street, parking area, or other impervious surface or

(c) a head that is misting due to high water pressure,

(2) During irrigation:

(a) allowing water to run off a property such that there is a trail of water running in a street, parking area, or other impervious surface for a distance of 50 feet or greater or

(b) allowing water to pond to a depth greater than 1/4 of an inch in a street, parking area, or other impervious surface.

Watering Devices - Wherever in this ordinance reference is made to outdoor irrigation, it shall mean any device used for the conveyance of water for the purpose of watering and shall include in any such definition, without limitation, irrigation systems, soaker hoses, drip irrigation or any hose that is hand-held, hand-used whether the same has a nozzle, sprayer, sprinkler device or none. All such devices shall be used only during the days and hours authorized by this Article.

Well Owners - Any person, company or organization using water supplied by a water well located within the city limits of the City of Fredericksburg. Any reference to "Customer" in this division shall also refer to and be applicable to well owners, except where the requirement or prohibition cannot be applicable to well users. All water use restrictions set out in this division shall apply to those using water supplied by a well located within the City of Fredericksburg.