The Shadetree Partnership’s first summertime nursery event is scheduled for Saturday, July 9 beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Volunteers are needed to weed, feed, stake and prune the nursery’s extensive stock of trees, shrubs and groundcover. If you enjoy the outdoors, gardening, enjoying volunteer opportunities and working with others and need community service hours, then the Shadetree Nursery is the place for you.

Help plant seedlings, transfer plants into larger pots, stake, rake and make a difference. A continental breakfast in the morning will be offered to thank the volunteers.

Visit the Shadetree website to register, or contact Leslie Bonkowski at the Irvine Ranch Water District (949) 453-5212.

The nursery is located on the University of California, Irvine campus directly behind the Campus Recreation Center on Adobe Circle South and adjacent to the soccer field. However, you need to park at UCI’s recreational center to park which is located at 680 California Avenue, Irvine. Immediately prior to your scheduled event, please download this event information including a flier, a required parking pass.

Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes. Bring a hat, sunscreen and work gloves if you have them.

If you can’t make the July event, there are other opportunities throughout the year.

Have you ever wanted to learn the dynamics of successful composting? Now’s your chance! Join us on Saturday, July 9 from 9 a.m. to noon for a free workshop. The workshop will be held at the Irvine Ranch Water District’s headquarters office, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine.

This presentation covers all of the basics of composting and vermicomposting (composting with worms). You will learn:

• What is composting and why is it so important?
• Tools and materials you will need
• Which items are compostable and which are not?
• Harvesting and using your compost.

Space is limited, so go to rightscapenow.com/events to sign up.

What is the problem?

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) is limiting Irvine Ranch Water District’s ability to pump low cost groundwater when compared to other north Orange County water agencies by implementing a policy that excludes recycled water from total water demand calculations. This imposes an unfair financial burden on IRWD customers.

How are water resources managed in Orange County?

North Orange County meets the total water demands of its residents through groundwater, imported water, and other water supplies. The region is fortunate to have access to a large groundwater aquifer, managed for over 80 years by OCWD. OCWD manages the amount of groundwater in the basin by establishing an allowable percentage of groundwater that the retail water agencies can pump relative to the agencies’ total water demands. Groundwater pumped in excess of this percentage is subject to additional fees and assessments. As a “managed” groundwater basin, the benefits of groundwater are intended to extend equally and fairly to all north Orange County retail water agencies and their customers.

Local groundwater is the lowest cost and most reliable supply of water for north Orange County, while imported water is the highest cost of water for the region. In order to reduce their dependence on costly imported water supplies, some retail water agencies have invested in other sources to meet their customers’ water demands. For example, IRWD, starting in the 1960s, took the initiative to reduce its dependence on imported water supplies by developing a recycled water system. Over the past 50 years, the customers of IRWD have invested upwards of $600 million in an innovative recycled water system that has improved regional water supply reliability and reduced the need for costly imported water supplies. IRWD customers have enthusiastically supported ongoing investments in the development of their recycled water system knowing that water is too valuable to be used only once and that reducing reliance on imported water is good resource management. The wise investment made by IRWD customers in a recycled water system should not be penalized by an OCWD policy.

So how does OCWD’s policy unfairly harm IRWD?

Unfortunately, an existing OCWD policy is unfairly shifting the benefits associated with IRWD’s investments in its recycled water system away from IRWD customers. OCWD’s current policy specifically excludes IRWD’s recycled water demands from what it considers “total water demand,” thereby artificially reducing the amount of high quality, low cost local groundwater that IRWD is allowed to pump. A graphical explanation is provided below:

By maintaining this policy, OCWD is shifting the benefit of IRWD’s investment in a recycled water system away from IRWD customers. OCWD’s policy penalizes the use of recycled water, imposes an unfair financial burden on IRWD customers, and is contrary to state law and California water policy.

What is a fair solution?

To resolve these issues, IRWD has requested that OCWD recognize that recycled water meets customer demands, just like the imported water that it replaced, and modify its policy to allow recycled water to count as part of an agency’s total water demand. This will end the unfair shift of benefit away from IRWD customers and will allow for fair and equal access to low cost groundwater among north Orange County water agencies. This policy shift would also align with OCWD’s strong belief that water recycling should be promoted, not discouraged.

Why now? Seeking fairness.

For many years, IRWD has attempted to develop an equitable change in OCWD’s unfair policy. This year, as a direct result of this policy of penalizing the use of recycled water, IRWD is faced with being assessed additional groundwater fees, estimated at approximately $2 million. To protect the interests of its customers, IRWD has taken action by filing a complaint with the Superior Court of the State of California. While IRWD is still hopeful that discussions with OCWD will resolve the issue, we believe that this lawsuit is needed now to facilitate a change in OCWD policy, to preserve the benefits of IRWD’s investments in its recycled water system, and to protect IRWD customers from additional costs imposed through higher rates.

For up-to-date information and resource library please visit http://www.equalaccesstogroundwater.com

Quench your plants' thirst with free recycled water from IRWD.

More than a year ago, IRWD established a recycled water filling station at the headquarters office at 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue in Irvine. Since then, hundreds of customers have benefitted from this resource.

If you are wondering how to keep that vegetable garden or those fruit trees alive during intense heat, recycled water is a drought-busting way to do that. And horse owners – want to control dust around your stables or even cool off your horses? Drop by and pick up some free recycled water.

To participate, first-time visitors must provide a California driver’s license, an IRWD water bill and a completed application form. Customers must provide their own containers.

For complete program rules and information, visit irwd.com/recycled.

For your convenience, summer Recycled Water Filling Station hours are:

• Monday – 1-5 p.m.
• Tuesday – 8 a.m.-noon
• Wednesday – 1-5 p.m.
• Thursday – 8 a.m. – noon
• Friday – noon – 5 p.m.
• Saturday – 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.*
• Sunday – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.*

*Closed between 12:30-1 p.m. for lunch

The Recycled Water Filling Station will be closed during rain or excessive heat.