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.
Check out Drought Friendly Gardens and Get Inspired!
If creating your own drought-friendly landscape is high on your list, but you aren’t quite sure where to begin, here is a chance to visit homes whose owners have successfully accomplished this transition.
IRWD is hosting a self-guided drought friendly garden tour on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Go to RightScapeNow.com/GardenTour for more details and to sign up.
The tour will feature around 19 beautiful, colorful drought-friendly landscapes sprinkled throughout the IRWD service area. The homeowners will be available to chat with the tour participants and share what is needed to create a drought-friendly landscape.
Children's Water Festival - 20 Years of Fun and Learning
More than 7,000 third through fifth grade students from all over Orange County converged on Aldrich Park at UC Irvine for the two days of the annual Children’s Water Education Festival. Around 400 of them were able to “Get the Groundwater Picture” at the Irvine Ranch Water District’s activity.
Students learned about the local groundwater basin, the aquifers, what they can do to prevent water pollution and conserve water during the drought and every day.
A total of 612 students from the IRWD service area attended the two-day event held March
23-24. This was the fourth year the event was held at Aldrich Park and the weather cooperated.
The event had been held at the Nixon Library and Birthplace for four years previously and before that, at the Hidden Valley Event Center in Irvine behind the former Wild Rivers location. IRWD has participated in the event all 20 years of its existence.
For more information on IRWD educational programs, please visit our website.
Student Art Show Arrives at IRWD
Stop by the lobby of the Irvine Ranch Water District’s Sand Canyon office the week of April 5-12 to view the winning Water Awareness posters of students from all over Southern California.
The display features the winners of the 2015 Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s poster contest and includes the art work of Jana Ibrahim, who was a first grader at Westpark Elementary School at the time of the contest.
Jana’s art work and the other 35 winning posters will be displayed in the IRWD lobby and available for public viewing during regular business hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The students, their parents and teachers were invited to a ceremony at Metropolitan’s Los Angeles office in November. The winning art work was framed and on display in the building’s rotunda. Winning posters were published in the 2016 Water is Life calendar.
The traveling art show began in January and is making its way around various water agencies all over Southern California. The show will conclude the end of July and the framed art work returned to the participating agencies. Jana will be honored at a future IRWD board meeting and be presented with her winning art work.
IRWD has participated in the annual poster contest since its inception more than 20 years ago and has had at least one winner each year. More information about IRWD education programs is available on our website.
