For the second straight year, IRWD has been honored with J.D. Power’s top Customer Satisfaction Award, recognizing the District as the best midsize water utility in the Western United States, as rated by its customers.

Contributing to the overall first-place finish, the survey ranked IRWD No. 1 in four categories central to the District’s values: quality/reliability, conservation, billing/payment, and communications. Nationwide, only eight water agencies win this award each year.

The U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, now in its eighth year, measures satisfaction among residential customers of 92 water utilities that deliver water to populations of at least 400,000 and is reported in four geographic regions (Midwest, Northeast, South and West) and two size categories (large and midsize).

Overall satisfaction is measured by examining 33 attributes in six factors (listed in order of importance): quality and reliability; price; conservation; billing and payment; communications; and customer service. The study is based on the responses of 36,833 residential water utility customers and was conducted in four waves from June 2022 through March 2023.

To better reach you in an emergency, Irvine Ranch Water District has created IRWD Alert — a new notification service with enhanced communications tools to reach out to the community in critical situations.

This service allows us to send real-time alerts by email, voicemail, and SMS/text notification, providing you and your neighbors with important information during an emergency, including what to do and where to find more information.

Click here for more information, or to sign up.

Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. The national day was created in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

At IRWD, one of our Guiding Principles states: “We are dedicated to providing, conserving, and maximizing the efficient use and reuse of water and renewable resources to the benefit of our customers and to enhance the environment.”

Being protective of the environment is important every day of the year, but for Earth Day, IRWD will participate in the following Orange County events in Irvine, Newport Beach and Lake Forest:

Celebrate Earth Day with the City of Irvine 

When: April 15, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Quail Hill Community Center, Irvine
More information: cityofirvine.org/earthday

Earth Day 2023 is April 22, and this year marks the 53rd anniversary of Celebrate Earth Day. Now is the time to preserve and protect our health, our families, and our livelihoods — and together, embody this year's Earth Day theme: Invest in Our Planet. Go to Quail Hill Community Center to enjoy guided hikes, a compost demo, interactive activities offered by the City of Irvine and partner agencies.

Earth Day at the Bay

When: April 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, Newport Beach
More information: newportbay.org/earth-day/

A free family-friendly day full of hands-on arts and crafts, educational activities, and science discovery. Enjoy live music as you explore Adventure Partners’ booths, take a break for a tasty treat at one of the food trucks, and don’t forget to complete the scavenger hunt for prizes and giveaways. 

Earth Day in the Woods

When: April 22, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Where: 25041 Trailview Terrace, Lake Forest
More information: lf2.org/earth-day/

Scheduled events include tree planting, education seminar, and a presentation by the OC Bird of Prey Center. There will also be participant booths at which the relevant experts will be available to dispense valuable information and answer questions. The event will also include food trucks, face painting, volunteer opportunities, crafts, freebies, and more.

BONUS: At-home action items

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a coloring page for this year’s Earth Day that would make for a fun at-home activity: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-04/earthdaysheet_april2022-4.pdf

Browse earthday.org, where you can find myriad ways to celebrate Earth Day, including this 52-item list of activities you can do right now: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-tips/

Make it a lesson! The EPA provides several resources for how to teach environmental issues to students from kindergarten through high school: https://www.epa.gov/students

Drop your water use by installing a WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller! You’ll water smarter, and your water and sewer bill will thank you. Plus: IRWD’s Residential Landscape Tune-up Program provides expert help and covers 50 percent of your repair expenses. Apply at https://www.irwd.com/save-water-money/landscape-irrigation-tuneup-program

IRWD is now accepting 2023 calendar reservations for the Community Meeting Room and Duck Club.

Please visit IRWD.com/community/meeting-rooms to get more information about the meeting rooms and to view the online calendar for available dates and instructions on how to submit your application.