IRWD recently honored nearly 40 Irvine Unified School District students for their participation in the 2025–26 IUSD Science Fair.

Sixth- to 12th-graders with water-related projects displayed their experiments at the April 27 IRWD Board Meeting, where they shared findings with family, friends, teachers, District staff and Board Members before being awarded medals.

IRWD has been a sponsor of the IUSD Science Fair since its first year and is proud to see some of the brightest young minds in the service area exploring innovative ways to conserve water and improve our environment.

On the surface, your bill is pretty simple: Use more water and the bill goes up; use less and it goes down. But a lot goes into your water bill. Here’s a deeper look.

The basic components of your water bill include two things: water usage charges and service charges. Water usage charges are variable costs for the amount of water you use. Service charges are fixed costs to recover the expenses of maintaining IRWD’s water distribution infrastructure.

Variable charges

To encourage wise water use, each residence is assigned a monthly water usage budget, which is based on factors such as the number of occupants and size of irrigated area. Check your bill for a breakdown of what your budget is based on. How much you pay for each CCF of water (1 CCF or 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons) depends on whether you stay within your budget.

Rates are broken into four tiers, each assigned a rate based on the actual cost of service that varies according to the water source. Low Volume and Base Rate tiers are for water used within a customer’s budget, which is sourced primarily from lower-cost groundwater and reduces the need to import expensive water from out of state or Northern California. The majority of imported water costs are allocated to Inefficient and Wasteful tiers.

Fixed charges

Your bill also contains fixed charges for water service and sewer service. Water service charges are based on the size of the meter required to provide flow for the property. These charges — to recover IRWD’s fixed infrastructure costs — are assessed whether or not you use water that month.

How your water budget is calculated

Your monthly household water usage budget is the sum of your indoor and outdoor budgets. Together they represent an efficient volume of water to meet your individualized water needs.

Your indoor budget is simple: 50 gallons per person per day (divided by 748 to convert gallons to CCF).

Your outdoor budget is calculated using data from local weather stations: your irrigated landscape area x evapotranspiration (daily plant water loss in cubic inches) x 0.75 ET factor (to account for the fact that at least 40% of your landscape should be drought-tolerant) x 36.3 conversion factor (to convert acre-inches into CCF).

See a graphical equation and breakdown of dollar rates per rate tier in the April issue of Pipelines at IRWD.com/pipelines.

Learn more

Visit IRWD.com/understandmybill for details on current water rates. Visit IRWD.com/services/proposed-rates for rates beginning July 1, 2026. Contact 949-453-5300 or CustomerService@IRWD.com for questions.

Your dream outdoor living space is closer than you think. Flip through the Yardtopia™ Spring 2026 Look Book and picture yourself there: gathered around a fire pit with friends, lingering over a long outdoor dinner, or starting your morning surrounded by bougainvillea and the scent of fresh rosemary.

Packed with 64 pages of stunning inspiration, this look book covers everything from plants and pathways to shade structures, water features, outdoor kitchens, and spaces designed just for kids and pets. Whether you’re drawn to a serene meditation garden, a sleek pergola, or a lush raised-bed garden overflowing with lavender and citrus, there’s a vision here that’s meant for you.

View the Yardtopia Spring 2026 Look Book

Browse at your own pace. Bring what inspires you to yardtopia.com, where planning tools, plant guides, and expert resources are ready to help you turn any page into your own backyard reality.

Spring is a great time to show your garden some love. One way to do that is by giving plants the support they need.

Install plant supports before your garden enters its growth spurt. Setting up trellises and stakes early prevents the logistical nightmare of trying to untangle a mature, sprawling plant through a narrow frame. The soil is soft and moist, so it’s easier to drive stakes deep enough to withstand winds without damaging established root systems.

For climbers like pink honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula) or star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), put supports in place now. Don't wait to react to a problem.

Proactive staking increases airflow and sunlight exposure for healthy growth and longevity.

Garden to-do list

—Tools: Clean and sharpen pruners for healthy cuts. Add a trowel and shovel for planting and soil work, and a sturdy yet comfortable pair of gloves to protect your hands.

—Pests: Always use nontoxic pest control solutions such as Tanglefoot, a sticky barrier that prevents crawling insects from climbing trees and plants.

—Rain barrel: Clear debris from the inlet screen of any rain barrels, and rinse their interior with a 1:1 vinegar and water mix. Make sure to empty any rain barrels regularly to prevent stagnation and algae.