IRWD Partnerships in Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship is a driving force at the Irvine Ranch Water District
Stewardship is a driving force behind Irvine Ranch Water District’s many environmental programs, because as water providers we understand how important it is to protect natural resources for future generations. It’s so important, in fact, that we have formed strong partnerships with the Audubon Society and the Shadetree Partnership to improve important stewardship initiatives.
The Sea & Sage Chapter of the National Audubon Society has long been a force for conservation, research and environmental education in Orange County, focusing on classes, field trips and volunteer activities. As such, the group’s interests and ours align perfectly at the IRWD San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. Audubon House, one of the historic homes on the site, was provided to Sea & Sage by IRWD and serves as the group’s home.
Audubon House offers a reference library, nature shop and exhibits of local birds, and is the gathering point for the group’s public tours of the marsh and other educational programs. Working with Audubon, IRWD has been able to reach the approximately 3,000 school children and 12,000 other visitors to the marsh each year, increasing their understanding and appreciation of the wildlife and the water quality functions of the marsh.
The Shadetree Partnership is a volunteer organization that promotes more livable communities by planting shadetrees in urban Orange County. Because shadetrees are good for water conservation and water quality, IRWD has become one of their primary partners. We have worked with volunteers to plant more than 25,000 trees throughout our service area.
Native shadetrees use less water than turf, and their shade reduces the loss of irrigation water to evaporation. Because their roots hold soil together, they also protect water resources by reducing silt runoff into local waterways. The group’s shadetree nursery in Irvine, which grows thousands of trees, shrubs and groundcovers using micro-spray emitters to spray IRWD’s recycled water at each plant, lets volunteers experience an example of highly efficient irrigation.
Color Us Purple, Not Gray
On September 13, 2011 the Foothills Sentry noted that the Irvine Ranch Water District was a gray water pioneer and suggested that recycled water and graywater are the same. For clarification purposes, graywater and recycled water are not the same.
Recycled water is wastewater treated, disinfected and used according to State of California standards. IRWD produces billions of gallons of disinfected tertiary recycled water annually which is used at about 4,500 sites throughout IRWD’s service area. By contrast, graywater is typically untreated, non-disinfected wastewater from residential showers, bath tubs, sinks and washing machines that may be used to irrigate landscaping at the site where the graywater is generated. Graywater has its own set of regulations that are in the process of being updated.
Recycled water is typically cleaner and safer than gray water and can be used for many applications including irrigation of schools, parks, golf courses and for industrial applications such as in cooling towers and for toilet and urinal flushing. In the case of IRWD’s recycled water, it is produced at one of two treatment plants and distributed to our customers through about 450 miles of pipelines dedicated to carrying only recycled water.
IRWD is considered a pioneer in the use of recycled water. Water recycling is an essential component of IRWD’s water supply portfolio, as any demand met with recycled water reduces the demand for high-quality drinking water. Currently, IRWD meets roughly 21 percent of its water demands with recycled water. The use of recycled water extends drinking water supplies, reduces the need for additional potable water facilities, reduces the amount of treated wastewater discharged into the ocean, reduces reliance on costly imported water supplies, and increases water supply reliability. In fact, the use of recycled water is a key component of IRWD's conservation and water use efficiency programs as every gallon of recycled water used results in a gallon of drinking water that can be saved for potable uses.
Please click to learn more about IRWD Recycled Water.
.jpg "Recycled Water is Delivered in Purple Pipes")
It’s Pancake Breakfast Time Again at the IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Visitors will Flip for Sea and Sage Audubon’s Flapjacks
The Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh will host the annual Sea and Sage Audubon Society’s
pancake breakfast on Saturday, October 29 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. “This event has become a favorite in the community,” said Sea and Sage President Bruce Aird. “We invite everyone to come on out and have a great breakfast while enjoying the atmosphere of the marsh.”
In addition to pancakes and sausages hot off the griddle, visitors can take guided bird walks with Sea and Sage naturalists before or after breakfast. Several spotting scope stations will be set up for close up views of birds at the ponds. The event will also highlight projects made by the youngsters who participated in the Audubon summer camps, Audubon’s vast collection of taxidermy birds and wildlife, Audubon’s used book store, and displays by Wild Birds Unlimited.
Participants can learn about Sea and Sage opportunities for adult volunteers to share their love of nature with children and the newest class offered by Sea and Sage that combines art with science.
Irvine Ranch Water District partners with Sea and Sage Audubon to provide community education programs. Please visit www.irwd.com for more information about the San Joaquin Marsh and IRWD education programs. Please visit www.seaandsageaudubon.org for information about the pancake breakfast.
IRWD Director Peer Swan Re-Elected Vice-Chair ACWA Region 10
Swan Re-Elected as Vice-Chair of ACWA Region 10 Board
ACWA Region 10 provides a local forum for water agencies to meet and discuss water priorities as well as legislative and regulatory issues confronting the water industry. “Peer Swan provides excellent leadership for the members of ACWA Region 10 which includes local water agencies in both Orange and San Diego counties,” said IRWD President Steve LaMar, “We congratulate him on his re-election to this position.”
ACWA is the largest statewide coalition of public water agencies in the country. Its nearly 450 public agency members collectively are responsible for 90 percent of the water delivered to cities, farms and businesses in California. This month, ACWA Region 10 held an informational program for members to discuss water supply reliability issues and techniques which will help agencies diversity their water portfolio and become more self-reliant. For more information on this meeting and on the Association of California Water Agencies, please visit ACWA.com.
Peer Swan was elected to the IRWD Board of Directors in 1979 where he currently serves as Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
Woodbridge Village Association Honored as a Key Partner
Long History of Collaboration Between WVA and IRWD
The Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors honored the Woodbridge Village Association as a key partner in service at its October 24 meeting. WVA was formed in 1976 and is the largest homeowners association within the IRWD Service Area.
“Over the years we have worked with many homeowners’ associations – but, by far, we have had the closest collaboration with the Woodbridge Village Association,” said IRWD General Manager Paul Cook.
The Association encompasses 1,700 acres and features approximately 40 parks and pools as well as two landmark lakes and swimming lagoons. Woodbridge was the first HOA to comprehensively plan for recycled water. They successfully implemented this plan by incorporating recycled water everywhere possible within the award-winning community.
In the early days, Woodbridge used potable water for irrigation around the pools and lakes. Over the years, they worked closely with IRWD and the Health Department to expand their use of recycled water by retrofitting these irrigation systems to use recycled water. Woodbridge was among the first in the IRWD service area to have a building duel-plumbed with both drinking and recycled water in the District at the Echo Run Park restroom in the early 1990s.
Over the years, Woodbridge has been very supportive of IRWD water conservation programs. In the 1980s the Association was one of the first areas within the IRWD service area to convert from warm season grass to more water efficient grass such as tall fescue.
WVA was honored for its many years of support, guidance and commitment of excellence in service to the community.
Please visit our website for more information about the IRWD 50th Anniversary Partner Commendations.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
