IRWD’s purple reign began in 1960s
One of the proudest achievements in IRWD’s 60-year history has been the leadership role the District has played in the use of recycled water. It started in 1963, when the Board of Directors implemented a vision to integrate water recycling into the design of our community.
Four years later, the Michelson Water Recycling Plant was completed, distributing recycled water to customers through a network that has grown to include two treatment plants, four recycled water reservoirs, 570 miles of pipeline, 6,000 metered connections, more than 125 dual-plumbed buildings, and the production of more than 25 million gallons of recycled water per day.
IRWD pioneered the use of purple pipe in the 1980s to distinguish recycled water from drinking water pipeline, and now “Irvine Purple” is the universal symbol for recycled water.
Recycled water meets about 27% of IRWD’s total water demands. About 85% of the public and commercial irrigated landscape in our service area—parks, medians, golf courses and community association properties—is watered with recycled water.
Recycled water is also used for toilet flushing and cooling towers in commercial buildings. Hyatt House Irvine was the first dual-plumbed hotel in California to use recycled water for flushing toilets in guest rooms. IRWD recycled water is also used to make the ice at the Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena.
Water is too precious to use once. By recycling it, our community saves billions of gallons of drinking water annually.
- Watch our video and learn more at IRWD.com/recycledwater.
- Read the Purple Pipe Origin Story.
Sea & Sage offers limited marsh programs this summer
IRWD’s San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary is open every day for people to enjoy on their own. For those wanting a more structured experience, Sea & Sage Audubon is offering several educational programs there on a limited basis this summer. A plan has been developed following state and CDC guidelines for health safety that includes mask wearing, daily health screenings, physical distancing, vaccines for staff, no shared use of equipment, and limited group sizes.
Nature walks will be offered to people of all ages at three levels of engagement. In the first, a nature display table will share tips of what to watch for at the marsh for self-guided exploration. A second tier will have naturalists providing information at various points in the marsh. A third level of a public nature walk would be limited to 10 people, with pre-registration required.
Nature day camps for children ages 10 to 15 will be offered as half-day week-long programs. Three camps provide opportunities for children to learn more about the riparian habitat, shorebirds, and bird groups at the marsh.
For more information on these and other opportunities, visit SeaAndSageAudubon.org or contact Project Director Trude Hurd at seaandsage@sbcglobal.net.
2021 Fix a Leak Week winners
Fixing a leaky toilet can save 30 to 50 gallons of water per day: Even the smallest drip, if left alone, can quickly add up and result in higher water bills. In March, IRWD encouraged customers to track down and repair leaks in their home for the chance to win one of seven $100 Home Depot gift cards. Congratulations to the following Fix a Leak Week winners: Mei-Ling Chen, Cheryl Hall, Linda King, Edmund Lee, Xi Qin, Teri Roberts and Michelle Sutton.
60 years of doing business in the community
Irvine Ranch Water District takes pride in building strong vendor and supplier relationships through the District’s Business Outreach Program, which provides information regarding upcoming projects and opportunities. Today, over 1,000 vendors partner with IRWD. Visit IRWD.com/BusinessOutreach for information on pre-qualifying as a preferred supplier, or to find a list of upcoming construction projects. Local businesses can also be recognized for water use efficiency with WaterStar Certification. Visit RightScape.com/waterstar.
Transparency Certificate affirms IRWD’s commitment to keeping customers informed
In recognition of its ongoing commitment to open governance and operations, Irvine Ranch Water District has been awarded a renewal of its District Transparency Certificate of Excellence.
“Integrity and service are core values for the IRWD staff — and transparency to our customers is an important element,” General Manager Paul Cook said. “We’re proud to have this certification as a testament to that.”
To receive the award, IRWD demonstrated completion of essential transparency requirements, including ethics training for all board members, properly conducting open public meetings, and filing financial transactions and compensation reports to the State Controller in a timely manner.
Certification is awarded by the Special District Leadership Foundation, which has promoted excellence in local government since 1999. The foundation created the certificate program to promote public transparency and give agencies an opportunity to showcase their methods of engaging with the public and keeping customers informed.
Key information can be found in IRWD’s Transparency Center, on the Board Meetings webpage, and throughout IRWD.com.
IRWD received its original certification in 2018. Cook said the certificate affirms IRWD’s pledge to be ethical, transparent and accountable.
