Please join us in congratulating the University of California, Irvine, for earning IRWD’s WaterStar Certification. UCI achieved this recognition by implementing a wide array of water-reduction projects, resulting in more than 78 million gallons saved annually.

UCI’s water savings include:

• High-efficiency toilets, showerheads and faucets in dorm rooms – 45 million gallons a year
• Restroom fixture upgrades in academic buildings – 25 million gallons a year
• Replacement of once-through cooling systems – 5 million gallons a year
• Turf replacement and irrigation upgrades – 3.5 million gallons a year

Also, areas irrigated with drinking water have undergone turf conversions and irrigation upgrades. To date, over 159,000 square feet of turf has been removed across campus and replaced with water-effi cient and drought-tolerant plants.

Sunny Lee and Yvonne Margo of IRWD accept the award from Eric Garcia of ehs International

The IRWD Safety and Security team has been granted the 2017 Safety Champion Award from ehs International, Inc. – this is the first time IRWD has received this honor.

ehs International focuses on environmental and occupational health and safety. The voting panel was composed of safety specialists, including a certified industrial hygienist, a certified safety specialist, and construction health and safety technicians. The teams of professionals chose to recognize three companies out of hundreds of other groups.

“Irvine Ranch Water District’s efforts to keep your workplace safe have not gone unnoticed, and for that you deserve recognition,” said Marjorie Del Toro, president and founder of ehs International.

The award is given out annually and distributed during a site visit.

“We are pleased and honored that ehs International recognized the amount of work that goes into training our staff and helping the district be compliant with Cal OSHA,” IRWD District Security and Safety Manager Emilyn Zuniga said.

In honor of Fix a Leak Week 2018, March 19–25, IRWD is hosting a contest where customers can win a $500 Home Depot gift card—just for checking for water leaks! Complete our online customer training, take a short quiz and submit your proactive Fix a Leak photo for a chance to win a $500 Home Depot gift card. Our training and quiz take about 10–15 minutes, and provide a great video overview of how to identify and fix leaks around your home. After completion, submit one or more photos of yourself checking for leaks around your home. The online customer training and quiz can be found at rightscapenow.com/training-center.

Completing these three simple tasks will automatically enter you into the random drawing where one winner will be selected for a $500 Home Depot gift card. If you choose to only complete the training, you will be entered into a separate drawing for a chance to win a $200 Home Depot gift card; submit only a photo and be entered for a chance to win a $100 Home Depot gift card.

Photos can be submitted to the Irvine Ranch Water District Facebook, Instagram, Twitter page or irwd.com/2018fixaleak. For social media, search for Irvine Ranch Water District, follow us and comment on our Fix a Leak graphic with your photo or use #irwdfixaleak when you post your photo. The contest begins Feb. 1 and ends March 25, and winners will be notified by March 31. The contest is open to IRWD customers only and photos become property of IRWD. Find out more details about the contest at irwd.com/2018fixaleak.

To retain soil moisture while discouraging weeds, Irvine Ranch Water District encourages generous use of mulch to cover garden and bedding soils. Did you know that adding compost as a low-cost, natural, non-chemical soil amendment also helps preserve moisture while nourishing your plants?

Compost is the biologically active material that results from decomposition of organic material under controlled conditions. Composting—the process of cultivating and harvesting compost—uses the following organic materials:

Greens include grass clippings, yard trimmings, green leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, and horse, cow, chicken or rabbit manure. Greens contain nitrogen, which aids breakdown of organic matter.

Browns include dried leaves, woody plant material, chopped/ground twigs and branches, straw, hay, sawdust, and shredded newspaper or cardboard. Browns contain carbon, which increases surface area and eases decomposition.

Water creates a favorable environment for microorganisms that break down organic material. A compost pile should be kept as moist as a wrung-out sponge.

Air provides the environment necessary for microorganisms to live and multiply. Turning the compost inhibits odor-causing bacteria and speeds creation of the fi nished product — a nutrientrich soil amendment, ready to be harvested and worked into the soil.

Do not use meat, fish, poultry, bones, dairy products, grease, lard, weed seeds, Bermuda grass, nutsedge, dog or cat manure, charcoal or Durafl ame ashes, or treated wood products.

The traditional method of composting involves making a pile of organic materials and letting it stand for a year.

For faster harvesting, first chop the materials into oneinch or smaller pieces to provide greater surface area for decomposition. If available, place course material at the bottom of the compost bin to promote air circulation. Next, build the pile by alternating green and brown materials as they become available. Then periodically turn and moisten the compost.

Compost is ready for harvesting when it has a pleasant, earthy aroma, a dark brown color and a crumbly texture. If a few chunks of woody material remain, screen them out and place them in the next batch.

Incorporating compost into soil is the most common way to use it. Spread two to four inches of compost and mix it into the soil to a depth of six inches. This improves the texture and water retention of Orange County soils, which tend to be mostly clay or sandy.

Want to learn more? Visit uccemg.com and type “composting” in the search fi eld.