Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
Amendment
Jeffrey Provenzano
Deputy Director, Water Resources Division,
Environmental Services Department
Transportation & Environment Committee
March 7, 2022
Water
Efficient
Landscape
Ordinance
Half of CA water used for landscape irrigation
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
Enacted 1993
Amended 2010, 2015
City of San Jose Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance
Adopted 1994
Amended 2013, 2016
2 https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Water-Use-And-
Efficiency/Urban-Water-Use-Efficiency/Model-Water-
Efficient-Landscape-Ordinance
Motivations
10/13/2021 Rules &
Open Government
Committee 21-778
Water Shortage
Declaration
Directed staff to revise
WELO to “require
only planting drought-
tolerant landscapes in
new developments”
3 *Map data 10/19/2021
Motivations (cont’d)
Supports Climate Smart San José goals
to:
Reduce total citywide, and specifically
residential, water consumption
Amendment will help lower water
use for irrigation for both residents
and businesses
Reduce household energy use
Amendment can help to reduce
urban heat island effects by limiting
hardscape and thereby reducing
building cooling needs.
4 Benefits to Residents and Community
Drought resilience through water-efficient design
Carbon sequestration in urban landscapes
Reduced urban heat island effects
Cost Savings
5 BEFORE AFTER
https://www.ccwater.com/160/Lawn-to-Garden-Rebate
Plant Selection
Plant Type Plant Common Name Watering Needs
(as %ET0)
Native to
California?
Turfgrass
(cool season)
Kentucky bluegrass 80 High Not native,
invasive
Turfgrass
(warm
season)
Common
bermudagrass
60 Moderate Not native,
invasive
Tree California buckeye <10 Very low Yes
Groundcover
/shrub
Prostrate acacia <10 Very low Yes
*WUCOLS
6 Plant Selection – Water Savings
Valley Water Sustainable Landscape Guidelines
7 Native Plants
USDA: “A plant that is a part of the balance of nature that has developed over hundreds or thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem.”
https://www.sare.org/publications/building-
soils-for-better-crops/soil-health-plant-health-
and-pests/
https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/issues-
and-priorities/carbon-sequestration/
https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-
organic/organic-farming-
practices/soil-health/ 8
Urban Heat Island Effect
https://dozr.com/blog/urban-heat-island
How to combat?
Reduce hardscape
Plant selection
Native trees and
groundcover provide
shade & increase
urban tree canopy
9 Irrigation Design
Valley Water Sustainable Landscape Guidelines Bubbler Irrigation https://golfstore.rainbird.com/rwsbc1404-
rain-bird-rws-root-watering-system-36-in-
tube-1-0-gpm-bubbler-4-in-grate.html10
Key Amendments Summary
Category Current Ordinance Proposed Change
Applicability New construction with landscape
area 500+ square feet All new construction
Compliance
Pathways
Three compliance pathways:
• Plant-type restriction
• Water budget
• Recycled water
All applicable projects must
comply with all design
requirements
Plant Type
High-water use plants permitted in
up to 25% of landscape area with
water budget compliance pathway
• High-water use plants
prohibited
• Encourages native plants
Turf Turf permitted in up to 25% of
landscape area
Turf prohibited, except for
recreational areas
Hardscape No hardscape limitation
No more than 50% of the area
available for landscaping may be
hardscape.
Irrigation Spray sprinkler systems permitted Must use drip/bubbler, except where turf is permitted 11
Stakeholder Engagement & Conclusion
Chamber of Commerce
Water and Energy Policy
Committee
Department of Planning,
Building, and Code
Enforcement Sustainable Silicon Valley
Gachina
Landscape
Management
Sierra Club
Loma Prieta
Chapter
Waterfluence
San Francisco
Baykeeper