Irvine Ranch Water District crews and the District's contractor Paulus Engineering were the first ones back in the Canyon area yesterday morning to begin the recovery efforts to restore water service to customers in the Williams Canyon service area.

A temporary road was cut through the lower washed out section of Williams Canyon Road to get in construction equipment.  The first bypass has been trenched and is now about 50 percent complete and this section should be complete today, which will allow IRWD to put Williams Reservoir and Pump Station back on-line.

For those customers that remain without water, IRWD staff will be bringing in a 2,000-gallon water truck today, which will be placed as far back in the Canyon as possible.  It will act as a terminal reservoir for the system until Benner Reservoir can be put back on-line.  These customers will be able to get water from the truck for drinking, sanitation purposes, and animals.

The second bypass is expected to be completed by next week, allowing IRWD crews to put Benner Reservoir back on-line and restore water service to all remaining customers.

The Irvine Ranch Water District has received top bond ratings from Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s ratings firms, which allows the District to finance future capital improvement and infrastructure projects at low interest rates. Securing low interest rates for infrastructure projects allows IRWD to continue to provide its customers with high quality, reliable water supplies while keeping rates low and stable.

“We are very pleased with the confidence the rating agencies have indicated in IRWD,” said Debby Cherney, Director of Finance.  “As a result, we were able to issue the bonds at historic low interest rates. This benefits our ratepayers by keeping their rates among the lowest in Orange County.”

Standard and Poor’s granted IRWD a AAA long-term rating for its $175 million taxable Build America Bond issue. Moody’s assigned an Aa1 rating to IRWD. Both firms cited IRWD’s strong financial performance and management, characterized by long-term capital planning, as a key component in IRWD securing favorable ratings.

Issuance of the bonds will help to finance a wide variety of projects over the next three years, including improvements to the Michelson Water Recycling Plant, biosolids treatment and disposal, water supply reliability projects, and the Natural Treatment System, which treats urban runoff.

Please visit the Finance section of IRWD website for more information about IRWD’s budget and financial planning.

The Irvine Ranch Water District has received the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Purchasing Institute for thetenth consecutive year. The award is given to organizations that score high in levels of innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity and leadership attributes of the procurement function. Being efficient with time and money helps keep IRWD rates among the lowest in Orange County.

“Winning this prestigious award for a tenth year is thrilling,” said Alex Aguilar, IRWD Purchasing Manager.  “It validates the fact that the District is dedicated to constantly improving how we do business and challenges us to continue to lead the industry with our efficient and effective purchasing practices.”

Whether it’s a water meter or a ream of paper, the IRWD Purchasing Department is ready to procure and manage thousands of items needed to keep the District up and running daily. Since IRWD provides drinking water, wastewater treatment, recycled water and urban runoff cleanup, the 10-member team needs to be knowledgeable in all aspects of the water business. Being prepared for quick access to the right products and services saves time and money. This award showcases IRWD’s success in maintaining a fine balance between having the right supply level so District resources aren’t tied up in excess inventory and making sure that materials don’t have the chance to become outdated.

The National Program to Benchmark Organizational Excellence in Procurement - In 1995, the National Purchasing Institute established a program designed to recognize organizational excellence in public procurement.  The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) is awarded annually.  This prestigious award is earned by those organizations that demonstrate excellence by obtaining a high score based on standardized criteria.  The criteria are designed to measure innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement, and leadership attributes of the procurement organization.

Companies/vendors with interest in doing business with IRWD can get prequalified on the District’s website or contact the IRWD Purchasing Department at (949) 453-5718 or purchasingdept@irwd.com

Irvine Ranch Water District has posted online the 2010-2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.  “Timely and accurate reporting is crucial in making sound financial decisions, providing the transparency that rate payers expect and maximizing District resources.” said Debby Cherney, IRWD Director of Finance.

The IRWD CAFR offers a big-picture look at all aspects of the District’s operations, including the budgeting and planning process, discussion of the IRWD assets, and a host of statistical information.  It goes into much more detail than a traditional annual report and highlights major projects and initiatives in addition to financial data.  

The CAFR has been the choice of public agencies since it was established in 1945 by the Government Finance Officers Association. IRWD has earned the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence  for the past seven years. The award recognizes governments whose CAFRs achieve the highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting.

To download the CAFR or learn more about IRWD prudent financial planning, please visit the IRWD website.