IRWD staff keep O.C. beaches clean

Once again this year, Orange County surpassed other regions in the state with top water-quality marks on Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card. IRWD is proud to be part of efforts resulting in A+ grades for two top-ranked beaches: Los Trancos and Muddy Canyon.

IRWD uses diversion pump stations at these Crystal Cove sites to divert polluted urban runoff to sewers, where it is later treated and recycled as part of Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System. This lessens the amount of pollution that makes its way to our beaches from activities such as washing your car or hosing off a sidewalk.

“Los Trancos and Muddy Creek were heavily polluted before IRWD’s involvement,” said Ian Swift, IRWD’s Natural Resources Manager. “The extensive work of staff over recent years has contributed significantly to the improvement in water quality.”

District staff from various teams — including Collection Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Natural Treatment Systems — collaborate daily to operate the pump stations 24/7. It’s just one of many examples of our longstanding commitment to sustainability.

Other examples include the San Joaquin Marsh and 45 other wetland sites, which naturally treat urban runoff in the San Diego Creek Watershed before it makes its way to the Upper Newport Bay and ocean.

Learn more about Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card and read the full report at bit.ly/beachreportcard.

Learn more about IRWD’s Natural Treatment System at IRWD.com/nts.

IRWD is proud to be part of water quality efforts resulting in A+ grades for two top-ranked beaches: Los Trancos, seen here, and Muddy Canyon.

IRWD uses diversion pump stations like this area of Los Trancos near the Crystal Cove Tunnel to divert polluted urban runoff to sewers, where it is later treated and recycled as part of Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System. This lessens the amount of pollution that makes its way to our beaches from activities such as washing your car or hosing off a sidewalk.