The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) - AB1881 became effective January 1, 2010. WELO, (pronounced wee-low) essentially makes it illegal to waste water in the state of California. Its purpose is:

• To establish a structure for designing, installing, maintaining, and managing water efficient landscapes in new and rehabilitated projects.
• To use water efficiently without waste by setting a Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) as an upper limit for water use and reduce water use to the lowest practical amount.
• To establish provisions for water management practices and water waste prevention for existing landscapes.
• To promote the value and benefit of landscapes while recognizing the need to use water and other resources efficiently.

In addition to affecting new construction of 2500 sf or more (of irrigated area), existing landscapes that have a water meter and an irrigated area of one acre or more will also be subject to irrigation water use analysis. Recommendations will then be made as necessary to reduce landscape water use to a level that does not exceed the MAWA, or the “water budget”. This ordinance is to be administered by local agencies (cities or counties), but  municipalities may delegate these responsibilities to the local water purveyor. Each municipality must adopt the Model ordinance as written or create one of their own, which must be at least as strict as the Model. For landscapes without water meters, the agencies can still perform irrigation surveys to evaluate water use and make recommendations as needed in order to prevent waste. Water waste from grossly inefficient landscape irrigation practices is no longer acceptable (although we know that it should never have been acceptable.)

There will not be “water police” patrolling every neighborhood looking for any stray drop of water on a sidewalk or driveway. But, the agencies will look at the biggest and most obvious offenders first. Penalties will be imposed for runoff due to low head drainage, overspray, and “set it and forget it” scheduling. For instance, there is a local bank that I drive by often. In the early morning hours of every day of spring, summer, and fall, the irrigation system is running, heads misting wildly, as hundreds of thousands of gallons of wasted water ooze out of the lawn, over the sidewalk, down the gutter, into the storm drains. I would be downright embarrassed if this property was one of my landscape maintenance accounts! Perhaps it is time to consider proper scheduling, cycle and soak periods and an accurate calculation of how much water this tiny lawn really needs.   Pressure regulators could prevent misting and overspray, and a weather-based, “Smart Controller” could save thousands of dollars and millions of gallons of water. If nothing was done except to re-program scheduling, it would be a “free fix”. A few minutes to adjust the clock would likely trim water use by 50% or more, judging by what is running into the street.

The ordinance doesn’t just address smart irrigation. It also makes each designer, landscaper, contractor, and landscape architect accountable for wisely selecting and using the right plants in the right places. It makes us responsible for learning more about the wonders of low water-use plants, what WUCOLS is (do you know?), and for finding out how grouping plants with like water requirements can make life easier for all concerned. WELO addresses every aspect of a responsibly designed, water-efficient landscape, as well as its proper installation and operation. The days of “guesstimating” are at an end.

This may sound complicated and even “Big Brother” like, but it is not. The whole purpose is to make us realize that water is a finite resource-there is an end to it. It is not an entitlement, but a gift, and we must use it wisely so there is always what we need, when we need it. Being water-smart now and helping your customers understand the importance of conservation and smart irrigation practices will be the best thing you can do for them and for the rest of us. Finding leaks, repairing broken equipment, leveling sprinkler heads, raising sunken ones, removing plant material that blocks proper application, adjusting sprays to water only the plant material and not the sidewalk, and general fine-tuning of an existing system will improve performance. Your customers will be grateful at the very least, and may just decide to do an upgrade or overhaul of their whole system- if you can show them the financial and environmental benefits of such actions. It will be good for them and good for your bottom line. Take this time before the weather heats up to learn what you must know. The ordinance is a little lengthy but worth your time to read. Don’t freak out at the formulas! Just read calmly and carefully  You will avoid costly mistakes if you do! If you have questions (since this article is just an overview and not meant to address every part of WELO) please contact me and/or go to www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/docs/MWELO09-10-09.pdf