IRWD's philosophy is that water is too valuable to be used just once. Every gallon of recycled water used to irrigate crops or landscaping means a gallon of potable water that can be saved for potable uses. Recycled water now makes up 20 percent of IRWD's total water supply, reducing the need to import expensive water and helping to keep water rates low. Eighty percent of all business and community (parks, school grounds, etc.) landscaping in the District is irrigated with recycled water.

The recycled water is delivered through a completely separate distribution system that includes nearly 400 miles of pipeline, eight storage reservoirs and 12 pump stations. Recycled water is used to irrigate landscapes including parks, schools, golf courses, streetscapes, and open space managed by many community associations. A few hundred estate-sized residential lots also use this water for front and backyard irrigation. The lake at Mason Park is filled with recycled water.

In 1991, IRWD became the first water district in the nation to obtain health department permits for the interior use of recycled water from a community system. Recycled water is currently used for toilet flushing in IRWD's facilities as well as in over 40 office buildings constructed with dual piping systems. Potable, or drinking water demands in these buildings have dropped by as much as 75 percent due to the recycled water use. 

Other uses for recycled water are agricultural irrigation and industrial uses such as cooling towers and carpet dyeing.