Partnership Conserves Local Drinking Water Supply
After three-year process, industrial customer becomes IRWD’s largest consumer of recycled water, helping preserve the drinking water supply
Fortistar Methane Group, owner / operator of a Newport Coast 21 Megawatt gas-to-energy facility located at the Coyote Canyon landfill, is now the largest industrial consumer of recycled water in the Irvine Ranch Water District service area, continuing IRWD’s commitment to innovative recycled water use.
Fortistar, which converts landfill methane into electricity, switched from potable water to recycled water for most of their non-potable purposes, including the supply of water to its cooling tower, in February.
“IRWD is pleased that Fortistar has chosen the environmentally-friendly and water conscious decision to switch to recycled water,” said IRWD General Manager, Paul Jones. “When industrial customers switch to recycled water for non-potable purposes they help to increase the reliability of our limited drinking water supply and they save money—it’s a win-win situation!”
The three-year long process to connect Fortistar to IRWD’s recycled water distribution system was a team effort involving Fortistar, Orange County Waste & Recycling, the City of Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Fire Department. All industrial consumers receive recycled water at a discounted rate from potable water.
“One of the more significant issues we face today is how to secure our growing energy needs in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way,” said Tom Gesicki, Managing Director of Fortistar. “We are pleased to be working directly with IRWD and support their initiatives to increase the use of recycled water in and around the Newport Coast.”
IRWD hopes to encourage more industrial customers to consider recycled water for all their non-potable needs. Recycled water is already used in the IRWD service area for agricultural and landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling towers in dozens of dual-plumbed buildings, and for industrial processes including concrete making.
The extensive IRWD recycled water program extends drinking water supplies, reduces the need for additional potable water facilities, reduces the amount of treated wastewater discharged into the ocean, and reduces reliance on costly imported water supplies.
Commercial customers can switch to recycled water if their system can be connected to the recycled water pipe system. Companies not only benefit by being environmentally-friendly, but also receive a discount on their water bill. If your company is interested in connecting to IRWD’s recycled water system and think your property may be eligible, please contact Alex Harris, Recycled Water Supervisor at (949) 453-5576 or harris@irwd.com, to discuss your options.
For more on IRWD’s recycled water programs, please visit our website.
For more information on Fortistar, please visit www.fortistar.com .
Water Festival Draws Thousands of Students
IRWD Celebrates 15 Years of Participation in the 15th Annual Event
More than 5,000 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from throughout Orange County participated in the 15th annual Children’s Water Education Festival at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum March 23-24. Irvine Ranch Water District is honored to have been involved in this event since its inception 15 years ago.
“The festival presents a unique opportunity to educate students about local water issues and help them understand how they can protect and preserve water and their environment,” said IRWD General Manager Paul Jones.
Approximately 500 students passed through the IRWD booth over both days to learn about groundwater aquifers, the value of safeguarding the groundwater basin, and groundwater as a valuable local water supply source.
IRWD presented the activity, “Get the Groundwater Picture,” which not only helped to put local groundwater sources into perspective, but students were allowed to “become an aquifer” and “water molecules” all while conforming to California State Science Standards.
Since the festival began, more than 80,000 children from schools throughout Orange County have been able to experience the festival and all it has to offer. This fun, lively and educational event helps teach our students how to make "blue" and "green" choices to help protect our precious water resources and environment now and for the future.
For more about the IRWD education programs, please visit www.irwd.com/community-programs.
IRWD Reaches out to Businesses
Building Relationships with Vendors and Suppliers
More than 80 water industry vendors and contractors learned of the tools offered by Irvine Ranch Water District that make it easier to do business with the District. Patty Uematsu, IRWD’s Principal Engineer for Capital Projects, presented an overview of IRWD projects for the next six months and beyond at the IRWD Business Outreach Program lunch meeting on March 29.
“The goal of the Business Outreach Program is to build strong relationships with our vendor and supplier community,” said IRWD Board Vice President Mary Aileen Matheis.
The program highlighted six upcoming construction contract opportunities, outlined details of each project and advised dates when the projects would be advertised for bid. IRWD also unveiled a new website feature where users can track construction projects that are out to bid.
Business Outreach Program participant Michael Esposito of Johnson-Peltier Electrical Contractors was impressed with the information he received at the event.“I am very encouraged by the new website,” he said. “It should make it a lot easier for me to contact the general contractors that are bidding on upcoming projects.”
The results of an online survey sent out after the last Business Outreach Program meeting demonstrated that participants were eager to learn more about upcoming projects and contracting opportunities.
For more information about the Business Outreach Program, visit the IRWD website at
www.irwd.com/doing-business/business-outreach-program.
Joan Irvine Smith Honored as IRWD Partner
In recognition of the Irvine Ranch Water District 50th anniverary, it was fitting that the first person to be honored as a community partner was Joan Irvine Smith.
Mrs. Smith is the great-granddaughter of James Irvine who assembled about 120,000 acres to form the Irvine Ranch in what is now known as central Orange County. The land that once was the Irvine Ranch is now largely contained within Irvine Ranch Water District's service area. 
We’re Wild about the Wetlands, are You?
Discovery Science Center Event Promotes Learning and Fun
Kids of all ages are invited to visit the Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh on Saturday, April 30 for the Discovery Science Center annual Wild about the Wetlands event. Activities will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Wild About the Wetlands provides not only a fun activity for families, but will also offer a great opportunity to learn more about the environment and water,” said IRWD General Manager Paul Jones. “We’re proud to partner with Discovery Science Center once again this year.”
High school volunteers will teach children about water and resources through interactive games and demonstrations. During the day, children will be able to:
- Learn about keeping waterways clean and free from pollution with a landscape and coastline model
- Learn about the water cycle by making a water cycle headband
- Make a biodegradable seed pot and plant a California Friendly flower seed in it, and
- Play a wetland preservation game.
For more information about our community education programs, please visit Water Education - Irvine Ranch Water District.
