Project Wins Public-Private Partnership Award
Irvine Ranch Water District’s award-winning Energy Storage Project, which will save water customers half a million dollars a year, has earned another prestigious prize for public-private partnership, the District announced today.
The Orange County Business Council presented its Best Public-Private Partnership Award to the project, honoring collaboration between the District, Macquarie Capital, Advanced Microgrid Solutions and Southern California Edison.
Macquarie Group is owner and operator of the energy storage system, which when built was the largest energy storage system for on-site power in the United States. The project was designed and is maintained by AMS, and uses AMS’s industry-leading transactive energy management platform to produce the most efficient, reliable and cost-effective system possible.
The 6.25 MW/35.7 MWh network of high-efficiency lithium batteries — installed at 6 water treatment, recycling and pumping facilities throughout Irvine Ranch Water District — allows IRWD to buy and store electricity when rates are low, then use that energy to power operations during peak hours when rates are high.
Projected to save the District $500,000 or more in energy costs annually with no upfront investment, the installation also provides a source of stored power for Southern California Edison to tap when necessary to avoid service interruptions. Renewable energy is being incorporated into the project for even more economic and environmental benefits.
One of the largest installations of its kind in the United States, the project addresses an underlying challenge in the water industry: the water-energy nexus.
By harnessing renewable energy sources, reducing demand on the power grid and saving money on the electricity needed to deliver water to customers, IRWD, Macquarie Capital, Advanced Microgrid Solutions and Southern California Edison have teamed up on a project that fully addresses this concept.
“Through these partnerships, IRWD developed an energy solution that not only saves money but improves the reliability of the grid for the region,” General Manager Paul Cook said. “This project is an example of the broad benefits we can achieve when innovative public and private agencies work together.”
Previous awards presented to the project include the Golden Hub of Innovation Award from the Association of California Cities, Orange County; and the Best Energy Program Award for medium utilities from the California Municipal Utilities Association.
For the Orange County Business Council Public-Private Partnership Award, IRWD shared top honors with the Orange County Department of Education, which was recognized for its OC Pathways program.
Board Selects New President, Vice President
The Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors has selected Steven E. LaMar to serve as president and Mary Aileen Matheis to serve as vice president for 2019. The selections were made at the Dec. 10 board meeting.
LaMar has served on the board since 2009. He was president in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and vice president in 2013 and 2018. He currently serves on the Engineering and Operations Committee and the Water Resources Policy and Communications Committee, as well as various ad hoc committees. In 2018, he began a two-year term as vice president of the Association of California Water Agencies.
Matheis has served on the board since 1988. She was president in 2001, 2012 and 2016, and this is her ninth term as vice president. She currently serves on the Water Resources Policy and Communications Committee, and the Engineering and Operations Committee. She also serves on the Legal Affairs Committee of the Association of California Water Agencies.
Photo: Steven E. LaMar, left, and Mary Aileen Matheis.
Fourth Public Hearing Evaluating Change in IRWD Election Process
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT
Public Hearing on Evaluating a Change in the Elections Process for the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors and Establishing Division Boundaries
NOTICE is hereby given that the IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT (IRWD) will hold a public hearing regarding the District’s evaluation of changing the elections process for the IRWD Board of Directors from an at-large method of election to a by-division method of election, and the composition of divisions in accordance with Elections Code Section 10010. The purpose of the hearing will be to invite and solicit public comment on the draft division maps which have been published by the District and the potential sequence of elections for the directors from each division at different times to provide for staggered terms of office.
The draft division maps to be discussed at the hearing have been published and made available at www.irwd.com/about-us/district-election-evaluation-process.
IRWD currently uses an at-large method to elect the members of its Board of Directors. The at-large method allows voters from the entire service area to elect each of the five members of the Board of Directors. A by-division method divides a service area into separate divisions and allows the voters in each division to elect a member of the Board of Directors. Additional information on IRWD’s evaluation of by-division elections and the public hearing may be obtained by contacting Leslie Bonkowski, District Secretary at (949)453-5312 or on the IRWD Web site located at www.irwd.com/about-us/district-election-evaluation-process.
The Board of Directors of IRWD will hold the hearing on Monday evening, January 14, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in the Board Room of the offices of IRWD located at 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine.
Dated: December 20, 2018
Leslie Bonkowski, District Secretary,
IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT
and the Board of Directors thereof
Hydrant Flush Ensures Quality of Drinking Water
Water mains need a good flushing every once in a while to keep them clean. It’s a process that raises eyebrows—seeing precious water rushing from fire hydrants into the street—but it’s a necessary part of the preventative maintenance of our drinking water system. “This process maintains the integrity of the system so we can continue delivering the highest quality water possible,” said IRWD Director of Water Operations Tom Roberts.
Flushing scours the interior of pipes by sending a rapid flow of water through the mains. IRWD began the program in 1993, flushing hydrants one neighborhood at a time. With 1,900 miles of drinking water pipeline, it’s a never-ending process. Water mains more than 12 inches in diameter are flushed annually. Smaller mains are cleaned every three years.
During the flushing process, residents in the immediate vicinity might experience temporary discoloration of their water caused by harmless deposits, which do not affect the safety of the water. If you experience discolored water after crews have been flushing in your neighborhood, clear your home’s pipes by running all of your faucets for a minute or two
We’ve Made Your Bill Simpler, Without Skimping on Detail
Notice anything different about your December 2018 water bill? We redesigned it based on feedback from customers, who said they wanted it to be easier to read without sacrificing detail. See this document for an example of an actual bill with helpful explanations.
The changes include:
- A simplified account summary, for at -a-glance convenience
- Uncomplicated water usage data
- Detailed breakdowns of how your charges were calculated
And this is helpful: Customers who receive an eBill will no longer have to log in to look at their bill. We will attach a PDF to your email, so you can read it right there.
Don’t forget to look for your monthly Pipelines newsletter behind the last page of your bill!
Yes, you will continue to receive Pipelines every month — packed with news, event listings, and money-saving water-efficiency tips. If you get your bill by mail, Pipelines will be in the envelope, behind the last page of the bill. If you receive an eBill, Pipelines will be part of the PDF; just click on the PDF and scroll down to Pipelines, after your bill.
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