Four IUSD Science Fair Winners Honored by IRWD Board
Four Irvine Unified School District students were honored at the June 13 Board meeting for their water-related science fair projects.
The students were presented with certificates and each of their schools will receive $100 on their behalf for science programs, with an additional $100 going to support the district science fair.
IRWD has supported the science fair since its inception. In the fall, IRWD professionals participate in Ask-a-Scientist Night, which offers the students the opportunity to get their questions answered about their prospective projects.
This year’s science fair was held at Irvine High School. IRWD Water Quality experts Mindy Bergen and Michele Drzymowski judged more than 35 water-related projects based on the use of the scientific method, creativity, relevance, completeness of the project and evidence of problem solving.
This year’s winners:
- Emily Nguyen, grade 6, Stonegate Elementary, “You Can Help Solve the Drought Problem.” Emily sought to discover how greywater from different sources, such as from dishwashers, showers and clothes washers affected plant growth. She believed that plants would survive the soaps from the greywater because they are themselves plant-based. The PH level of greywater is close to what plants need to survive. Her experiment took around four weeks and at the end, Emily’s hypothesis that the plants would survive turned out to be correct.
- Ryan Takiguchi, grade 7, South Lake Middle School, “Life Sustaining Dirt: Which Soil Base Sustains Life the Longest Without Water?” Ryan said that growing up in California and dealing with drought has made him aware that drought-tolerant gardens are important, but can be expensive to install. He believes if you want to do it right, you have to use the most affective materials. So he decided to research which soils would best sustain plants and hypothesized that potting soil would be more able to sustain life with the least water. He potted aloe vera plants separately in sand, gravel, potting soil, and aquaponic clay balls. Over 10 days, he monitored the plants, concluding that it was not the potting soil that sustained the plants, but the aquaponics clay balls were the most effective.
- Ainesh Arumugan, grade 9, University High School, “Smart Irrigation Controller.” Ainesh had the drought in mind when he began his project, with the goal to develop a low-cost smart irrigation controller. His project used a processing and controlling unit, a camera and relays to control the irrigation system. According to his tests and analysis of data, his irrigation controller had reduced the water applied for healthy grass and increased the water for dehydrated grass. After 15 days, the dehydrated grass returned to a healthy state and the controller reduced the watering schedule. He met his objectives of developing the necessary hardware to maintain plant health and had greater efficiency when watering grass and other vegetation. His project was able to meet his design criteria. Ainesh’s project went to the county competition, where he took a first place award in the Environmental science/environmental engineering division. His project then moved onto the state competition, where he received a $1,200 award from the California Water Environmental Association.
- Harrison Ku, grade 11, University High School, “Seawater Desalination Using a Microfluidic Electrodialytic Cell Based on Laminar Flow.” Harrison’s project sought to test the capability of a novel microfluidic chip design in desalinating water with multiple parameters. The effects of changes in flow rate and electric potential on output concentration were analyzed. He found that a little more than three runs through the cell on average are required for water to be completely desalinated. He concluded that even though multiple runs are required, the desalination method presented in his project held many more advantaged over other methods. Harrison’s project was selected to compete at the county science fair where he won second place in the Environmental science and environmental engineering division. He also received the science fair’s Nat Lamm memorial award. He also received an award from the Orange County Sanitation District and a Gold Award from the Orange County Water District.
Learn more about IRWD’s education programs on our website.
Wonder About the Quality of Your Water? It’s Online
Providing clean, safe drinking water to our customers is a core value of Irvine Ranch Water District. If you want to see just how safe your water is, check out the 2016 IRWD Water Quality Report. It’s available online now.
The report spells out just how safe your water is and will ensure that your water meets and exceeds all state and federal guidelines.
IRWD prepares this informative report for our customers each June. Providing the report online helps reduce costs and is the environmentally friendly way of doing business.
We are happy to provide you with a hard copy if you would like one. Just send us a message at info@irwd.com with the subject line, “Water Quality Report,” and a report will be on its way in the mail. You may also request a report by calling (949) 453-5500.
The Water Quality Report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report, is available year-round online for your convenience. You can find the Water Quality Report here.
Our Water Quality staff continuously monitors the water supply, conducting more than a quarter of a million laboratory tests each year from water sampled at 99 points throughout the District.
The Water Quality Report provides information on the source of your water, testing results, and how water quality compares with regulatory standards. Additionally, the report answers commonly asked questions about water quality.
Summer is Coming – Time to think about Camp!
Memorial Day weekend is often hailed the unofficial kick-off to summer and with the school year ending in a few weeks, there is no better time to start planning for summer camp.
The Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh provides the ideal setting for fun and learning. Opportunities abound for youngsters age seven to 12.
Sea and Sage Audubon Society will once again host its popular nature camps as it has done for more than 20 years and Discovery Science Center returns with Summer Smiles and Project Discovery camps.
All of these camps fill up quickly, so sign up now!
Sea and Sage’s Fledgling Camp is for 7-8-year-olds and scheduled for June 20-24.24, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Campers will enjoy bird walks, journaling, songs, art projects and games.
Marsh Bird Camp is geared toward those nine-12 years old and has two sessions – June 20-24 and June 27-July 1, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Participants will explore all aspects of marsh bird life, take daily nature walks and have a visit from the Birds of Prey Center.
Bugs, Birds and Blossoms Camp is for those 11 years and older, scheduled July 11-16, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. This camp covers birds, bugs and native plants of the neighborhood.
Advanced Bird Camp is for campers 11 years and older and requires Marsh Camp experience. Camps take place July 18-22 and July 25-29, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Campers will study seasonal Orange County warbler populations, Alpine and Arctic Tundra habitat, enjoy art projects, off-site visits and nature walks.
Visit the Sea and Sage website for information.
Discovery camps begin with Project Discovery the week of July 11-15. Other weeks include July 25-29, August 8-12, and August 15-19. Duration of camp is 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Campers will enjoy a variety of design and engineering challenges, such as building and testing a model roller coaster, dropping an egg without breaking it, and constructing a catapult to launch objects toward targets. Project Discovery is for children seven-10 years old.
Summer Smiles is for the five-seven-year-old set, with dates of July 18-22 and August 1-5, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. During this camp, youngsters will investigate the world of marshland plants and animals, while also focusing on a series of children’s storybooks. Hands-on activities include concocting gooey slim, creating a cloud in a bottle, and designing a bug.
Visit Discovery Science Center’s website for more informati
Your HOA and Your Landscape: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions
If you live in a community governed by a homeowners’ association and are thinking about replacing your water-thirsty lawn with drought-friendly landscape, it’s important to know the rules that your HOA has in place. Take advantage of the IRWD turf removal rebate of $2 per square foot, but apply soon, as funds are limited. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about HOAs and landscaping: Q-Can my HOA fine me for not watering my landscape or letting my grass go brown? A-HOAs are prohibited by state law from fining residents who allow their vegetation or lawns to turn brown during a declared drought emergency pursuant to section 4735 of the Civil Code. Q-My HOA says they will fine me for using artificial turf and/or drought-friendly plants. Can they do that? A-No. Under Section 4735 of the California Civil Code, provisions of an HOA’s government documents (CC&Rs, etc) which prohibit the use of artificial turf or low water-using plants as a group are void and unenforceable. An HOA may still apply landscaping rules, such as design and quality restrictions about the type of artificial turf or low water-using plants a homeowner can use as long as the restrictions do not effectively make it impossible for a homeowner to install artificial turf or low water-using plants. Q-Can my HOA charge me a fee to review design plans for a drought-friendly garden? A-Yes. Many HOAs require a fee to review new landscape designs and plans. To determine if your HOA has the authority to charge you a fee to review design plans, please reference your HOA’s governing documents (CC&Rs, etc). Q-Is IRWD working with HOAs to help them understand the need to conserve water during a drought? A-Yes, IRWD actively works with and educates HOAs on the importance of reducing water use, especially when state-mandated water use reductions are in place. If you are on your HOA’s board, contact IRWD at rightscape@irwd.com to have staff provide a presentation at your next board meeting. Q-Where can I get design ideas for a drought-friendly garden? A-visit rightscapenow.com for drought-friendly landscape ideas and to sign up for free landscape design workshops.
May is Water Awareness Month – How Aware are You?
It’s easy to take water for granted. You turn on the tap and it’s there for all of your uses. May is Water Awareness Month and a perfect time to fill you in on what you need to know about your water supply:
Safe water is priority one. Providing our customers with the best water possible is at the heart of our mission. Our drinking water meets or exceeds all quality standards set by both the state and federal government. Our water quality staff continuously monitors the water supply, conducting more than a quarter of a million laboratory tests each year. IRWD has a state-certified, state-of-the-art water quality lab. Our annual Water Quality Report is available on our website. In addition, your water quality questions may be answered by viewing our online “Frequently Asked Questions.”
Your water supply is reliable. Over the years, IRWD has endeavored to decrease our dependence on costly imported drinking water. IRWD’s balanced water portfolio includes local groundwater and imported water. The blending of these sources varies according to the time of year and your geographic location within the District. In addition, IRWD has a robust recycled water program. Every drop of recycled water used for irrigation or other non-potable purposes saves drinking water. The District's diversified supply ensures a reliable water supply during times of drought, regulatory constraints and other emergencies. Additionally, our diverse water supply portfolio helps to keep rates as low as possible.
Saving water saves money, and helps keep your water bill low. It’s easier than you think to do more with less water – and we’re here to help. Our philosophy is to give customers as much water as they need through customized water allocations. These allocations are based on the type of home (single or multi-family dwelling), the number of people who occupy your home, and the total area of irrigated landscape surrounding it. If you stay within your water allocation, you will pay some of the lowest rates for water in Orange County. If you choose to use more water than your allocation, then you will be charged for using more than your water budget. If you receive a high water bill, give us a call so that we can help you figure out why you went over your allocation and what changes can be made to help you stay within your allocation. IRWD features http://rightscapenow.com/ as a great online resource for all things water efficient…tips, tools, rebates, garden/plant information, irrigation schedules, videos, events, webinars, workshops and more. Saving water means saving money.
