Water Conservation. Begins At Home.
Always Water Smart customers know that using less water around the home is an easy way to save money, protect the environment, and ensure there’s enough to meet our future needs.
Every day the average American pours, flushes, and sprinkles 40 to 130 gallons of water at home. Using simple conservation measures, that amount could be reduced by 14 to 39 gallons, or 30 percent. For 7 million customers, that’s a savings of 98 to 273 million gallons. Every day. About half of all water for residences is used inside the home, with toilets and clothes washers accounting for more than 25 percent of that water usage.
It’s easier than you think to do more with less water. Use these helpful tools to find out how to use water more efficiently. Save water and money ~ be Always Water Smart.
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Water Surveys
Not a water conservation expert? Don’t worry, because we are. IRWD offers residential customers free water use surveys to help identify ways to improve efficiencies, eliminate water waste and save money. These home audits are extremely beneficial to customers whose bills show over-allocation charges in inefficient, excessive or wasteful tiers.
During a home water survey, one of our trained conservation specialists will visit your home. First, we'll show you how to read the water meter and check for leaks. Next, we'll evaluate your landscaping and irrigation system and teach you how and when to adjust your irrigation controller for maximum watering efficiency. Finally, we will prepare a survey report with personalized water-saving suggestions.
To request a water use survey, please call (949) 453-5581 or email AWS@irwd.com. -
Water Allocation Calculator
This calculator will help you understand how your monthly water allocation is determined. It is useful both to IRWD customers and others who want to understand how this works. (Please note: Customers in the Orange Park Acres rate area are not on an allocation rate structure.)
For example:
IRWD Customers: You can evaluate how different factors affect your existing allocation.
Non-customers: You can estimate what an IRWD water allocation would be.
IRWD residential water allocations are based on the type of home, the number of people living in a home, the square footage of the irrigated landscape and other factors.
Instructions
- Select your Account Type.
- Enter the number of people living in your home.
- Enter the approximate square footage of the irrigated landscaped area outside your home. This figure should not include the portion of your lot taken up by your house, nor should it include "hardscape" such as patio and sidewalk areas. If you have a pool, include it as if it were part of the landscaped area since the pool evaporates roughly the same amount of water used by plants.
- Enter the month for which you would like an allocation.
- Push the calculate button.
- Click "Show Bill" to see more information.
Allocations vary from month to month. The calculator will return your target water allocation for the month indicated. The total is made up of an indoor water use allocation and an outdoor water use allocation. The total, shown in ccfs, is your target for water use that month. A ccf is one hundred cubic feet, or the standard unit shown on your water bill. One ccf equals 748 gallons of water.
Have additional questions or need help? Please contact an IRWD Customer Service Specialist at
(949) 453-5300 or email customerservice@irwd.com. -
Residential Allocation Variance Request
IRWD’s water allocation system uses daily weather information to ensure that you’ll receive the appropriate amount of water for your landscaping. This daily weather information is combined with the average amount of water used inside the home based upon the number of residents.
You may qualify for an allocation variance (increase) if you have additional occupants above the average assumed for your dwelling unit type, special medical needs, licensed care facilities, or if you have more than 1,300 square feet of landscaping (detached home) or more than 435 square feet of landscaping (attached home).
Based on the above criteria, if you qualify for an increased allocation please print and complete the Variance Request for Increased Water Allocation and return it to our customer service department along with the required documentation. For further details, call Customer Service at(949) 453-5300 or email customerservice@irwd.com.
Please note: Customers in the Orange Park Acres rate area are not on the IRWD rate structure and therefore do not qualify for variances at this time.
