Heavy Lifters at IRWD – Pump Stations
Not many of us think about how the water gets to our faucets. You turn on the tap and the water comes out, right? But how does that happen?
“For many of our customers, water is delivered by pump stations that bring water to their neighborhoods,” said Tom Roberts, Operations Manager, for Irvine Ranch Water District.
Pumps not only provide the needed pressure for areas in higher elevations, they also deliver water to the storage reservoirs that serves the neighborhoods for regular and emergency use.
Pumps may be operated by either electric or gas-powered motors. If a home is at a higher elevation, chances are the water coming from your faucets went through two or more pump stations.
Water is a heavy commodity – each gallon weighs just a little more than eight pounds. In order to provide the correct pressure, it is typically lifted 100 feet above the home. Every day, the average American pours, flushes or sprinkles 40-130 gallons of water per day, so imagine the energy needed to carry that water up a 100-foot ladder.
Pumps are selected to perform this lifting in the most efficient manner. IRWD’s pumps need to have adequate horsepower so that they don’t run continuously. They can then be turned off when electricity costs more, typically in the afternoon on hot days.
Pump stations may have two or more units to meet daily demands and there is usually a backup unit. In the foothill areas prone to wildfires, generators have been added to the pump stations to ensure the necessary fire flow in the event of a power outage.
IRWD has 57 pump stations throughout its 181-square-mile service area. Special instrumentation and telemetry monitors the pumps around the clock, providing valuable information to the operators. Pumps have protective devices that shut them down to prevent internal damage and water loss if there is a blockage or break in a water main.
Operators are notified through the SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system, which gives them an alarm on their computers. Often, adjustments can be made.
Engineers from China Visit Irvine Ranch Water District
Irvine Ranch Water District hosted 27 engineers visiting from China and Taiwan on a tour of the Potable Treatment Plant on August 9.
The engineers participated in a weeklong symposium in Los Angeles, which included conferences on the environment and workshops. The Southern California Chinese American Environmental Protection Association organized the symposium. This is the second year IRWD hosted a tour for the group.
The engineers were especially interested in the use of membrane technology to clean groundwater. IRWD has three treatment plants using membranes to clean groundwater for drinking water.
IRWD Engineer Carl Spangenberg made a presentation on the types of membranes IRWD uses and discussed the three treatment plants. A walking tour of the Potable Treatment Plant adjacent to the IRWD administrative office on Waterworks Way was given. This plant went online in 2007 and cleans water from five wells that contain salts from many years of agricultural use.
Other tours during the group’s weeklong stay included the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant in Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach and the Orange County Water District Groundwater Replenishment System.
No Access to Riparian View from Campus Drive Monday-Thursday Afternoon
Vehicular access to the San Joaquin Marsh from the Campus Drive entry to Riparian View will be unavailable Monday through Thursday afternoon because of construction activity in the area.
Access to the Marsh from Campus Drive will resume Thursday. Hikers are encouraged to use the Michelson Drive entry to Riparian View, park their vehicles in the small lot, and use the trails at Gate 13.
“This is a good opportunity for visitors to re-acquaint themselves with Tree Hill, IRWD’s Urban Forest,” said Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager.
More information about our construction projects may be found on our website.
Top Four IRWD Services Help Save Money
The Irvine Ranch Water district offers a variety of services that help customers save money. Here are the top four:
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Home Water Evaluation. Get water fit with your own IRWD personal trainer. For customers with consistently high water bills, a free home water evaluation may help you realize why your water bill is so high. During a home water evaluation, an IRWD employee will visit your home and perform a site inspection with you to analyze your water usage, including indoor and outdoor water use. Your IRWD personal trainer will then give you the tips and steps necessary to determine how to reduce your water usage. Home water evaluations may be scheduled by calling (949) 453-5581.
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Money-Saving Rebates. Did you know that IRWD offers rebates for water-efficient appliances, such a clothes washers ($250), toilets ($100), sprinkler nozzles ($4), and sprinkler controllers ($380)? If you’re in the market for one of these water-efficient devices, visit www.irwd.com and search for rebates to see which devices qualify and how much money you could save on your purchases.
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Variance on Your Water Budget. Every customer is given a water budget every month, based on number of residents, size of landscape, time of year and various other factors. This water budget is the amount of water you are allowed to use every month. When you go over this amount, customers pay an increased rate to accommodate the extra water IRWD must purchase to meet demand. A variance increases your water budget to account for additional occupants, special medical needs, larger landscaped areas, etc. If you think you qualify for an increased water budget, visit our website.
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One-Time Courtesy Adjustment. A one-time courtesy adjustment is available to customers who go over their water budget during one month due to filling a swimming pool or other special circumstances not related to leaks. When an adjustment is made, your water budget is adjusted to reflect the increase in water use for that month, saving you from paying an increased water rate. If you plan on filling your pool or have another special circumstance, call customer Service at (949) 453-5300 for a one-time courtesy adjustment.
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Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
Saving Water Saves Energy
Many Californians know about the importance of saving energy, and many know about the importance of saving water.
But few know about the direct connection between saving both. One of the best ways to save energy inside and outside your own home is to use wa3er more efficiently. For example:
- Letting your faucet run for five minutes takes as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.
- Heating water for bathing, shaving, cooking and cleaning requires a lot of energy. Homes with electric water heaters spend one-quarter of their electric bill just to heat water. To reduce indoor hot water usage, take shorter showers and wash clothes in cold water.
- On average, the annual energy used to deliver, heat and treat water for only 10 households could power a refrigerator for one year.
Reducing the amount of water that you use in your home not only reduces your energy use, but also your energy bills. When you save water, IRWD is able to reduce the amount of water we need to pump and treat, saving the District both energy and money. These savings are also passed along to our customers, helping to keep IRWD rates among the lowest in Orange County.
