During this time of drought, we are advising our customers that “brown is the new green.” So when you are driving down the street and you see a big green lawn on public property, or a greenbelt or park, more than likely those areas are irrigated with recycled water.

Irvine Ranch Water District pioneered the use of purple pipe to designate that recycled water is in use. So if you have any doubts, look for signs advising “This area irrigated using recycled water.” Or, you can look at the tops of sprinklers heads or the meter boxes – if they are purple, recycled water is in use.

In the IRWD service area, recycled water is primarily used for irrigation of public areas, agricultural crops, toilet flushing in commercial buildings, in air conditioning cooling towers in high-rise buildings and for mixing concrete. Landscape irrigation includes schools, ballfields, golf courses, parks, and greenbelts.

Recycled water is an important part of the IRWD water portfolio, because it stretches our water supply further. For every gallon of recycled water used, that’s a gallon of drinking water saved for customer use. The state water reduction mandate does not apply to the use of recycled water.

For more information on IRWD’s recycled water program, please visit our website.

The annual Sea and Sage Audubon’s annual Summer Barbecue is a must for those who have always wanted to enjoy a sunset dinner at the Irvine Ranch Water District’s San Joaquin Marsh. The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, from 5-10 p.m

This year’s featured speaker is Catherine Hamilton, who will take barbecue participants on an inspirational journey of birds and art. Hamilton grew up exploring the mountains and deserts of Southern California with a paint brush in hand and a love for the birds and wildlife. She became a contemporary artist in New York City and a full-time bird enthusiast. Combing her two passions, this adventure turned into four years of birding, painting in the field and in studios, and visiting museum ornithological collections.

This event is very popular and always sells out, so reservations are necessary. The menu will include chicken and freshly grilled hot dogs, salad, beans, chips, fresh fruit, cake, lemonade, and coffee. A veggie wrap will be provided for those who specifically request it on their reservation forms. The event is staffed entirely by Sea and Sage volunteers.

This family event will feature something for everyone:

• Dining in the meadow (6-7 p.m.)
• A sale of used nature books (5-7:15 p.m.)
• Evening walks around the marsh after dinner (6:30-7:50 p.m.)
• Catherine Hamilton’s program (starts at 8:15 p.m.)
• Evening walks after the program

Tickets for the barbecue and program are $20 for adults and $7 for children under five. Tickets include meals and beverages, evening marsh walk and program. Activities will begin at 5 p.m. Arrive early to sign up for the wildlife walks, as they are limited to 20 people.

For more information, reservations, and directions, call Sea and Sage Audubon at (949) 261-7963. The marsh is a hidden oasis located in the heart of Irvine. For more information on the Marsh, please visit the IRWD website.

As drought worsens, IRWD finds new ways to save water.

On Monday, July 13, the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors declared a Level Two Water Shortage. The declaration  reaffirms the steps that IRWD customers need to take to help the District meet the Governor’s mandate to reduce drinking water use by 25 percent statewide. This is the first time in the history of IRWD that a Level Two Water Shortage will be declared.

“This declaration is a direct response to the severity of the drought in our state,” said IRWD Board President, Steve LaMar. “We are doing everything we can to reduce our dependency on drinking water supplies and are asking customers to help in this effort. In addition, we are asking customers to cut their outdoor water use in half and embrace ‘Brown is the New Green.’”

IRWD has been tasked by the state to reduce drinking water use throughout the service area by 16 percent, which equates to the need to save approximately 2.6 billion gallons of water, or almost 3,950 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This challenge can be met if all customers do their part to save water.

To assist in these efforts, IRWD has reduced the outdoor water allocation, which is now based on drought-tolerant landscaping rather than warm season turf. IRWD hopes these changes will persuade customers to let their lawns go brown and switch to water-efficient landscaping by taking advantage of the Turf Removal Rebate, which offers $2 per square feet of grass removed, up to 3,000 square feet.

IRWD customers can take these steps to help reduce the use of drinking water and keep their bill low:

• cut outside watering in half
• let your water-thirsty lawn go brown
• get ready to install drought tolerant landscaping in the Fall
• and fix water leaks which are often a hidden cause of water waste.

To get customers used to the idea of letting their lawns go brown, ads promoting “Brown is the New Green: Cut Outdoor Water Use in Half” are now featured on buses, shopping centers, and in movie theaters across the IRWD service area. A letter and “Drought Survival Guide” were mailed out to residents in early June. Workshops on how to use the right plants, the right schedule, and the right equipment for a water-efficient landscape are held on an on-going basis (check irwd.com/events for dates) and a Drought Survival Expo will be held September 12 at IRWD, featuring workshops and landscape demonstrations.

 Level One Water Shortage Measures Already in Effect:

• Prevention of irrigation run-off and water waste;
• Leak prevention;
• Ban on washing down hard or paved surfaces, except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards;
• Ban on the use of non-recirculating decorative fountains or water features;
• Ban on single-pass cooling; and
• Ban on the use of a hose for vehicle washing unless the hose has a positive, automatic shut-off device.

Level Two Water Shortage Measures Included in the new Stage Two Declaration:

• Customers shall reduce potable landscape watering by up to 50 percent;
• Swimming pools shall be filled to a lower level to minimize water loss due to splashing.
• Discretionary maintenance requiring refilling of swimming pools shall be prohibited. Filling newly constructed pools and refilling pools for required, non-discretionary maintenance are not subject to the ban;
• Commercial conveyor and in-bay car wash systems must reuse water if equipped to do so;
• Recycled water shall be required for construction activities, including earthwork, dust control and clean-up. The District may, at its discretion, waive this requirement if it can be demonstrated to the District’s satisfaction that compliance with the requirement imposes undue hardship;
• The use of recycled water is required for street sweeping activities. The District may, at its discretion, waive this requirement if it can be demonstrated to the District’s satisfaction that compliance with the requirement imposes undue hardship;
• Common interest associations shall not fine or assess owners of separate interests for reducing or eliminating the watering of vegetation or lawns, unless the association uses only recycled water for irrigation of the association’s common areas and recycled water is also available at the irrigated area of the separate interest.
• The District, by separate action, shall implement demand management measures through adjustments in the allocation-based pricing structure (On June 22, 2015, the Board adopted No. 2015-17 implementing such adjustments).

For the latest information on the drought and how it impacts IRWD customers, visit irwd.com/drought.

Beginning in July, your bills will be calculated using the updated IRWD Budget Based rate structure.

IRWD must meet a 16 percent reduction in potable water use by February 2016. In order to implement this mandate, all IRWD customers will be required to limit their outdoor water use.

Because of the Governor Jerry Brown’s mandate, IRWD will be reducing your outdoor water budgets. The outdoor water budgets will no longer be based on warm season turf.

Effective July 1, 2015, your outdoor water budget will be based on drought tolerant landscaping with drip or a similar high efficiency system. It will no longer be based on turf. This means that customers who have lawns must take steps to reduce outdoor water use or you will go over your monthly water budget and receive a higher bill.

How Your Water Bill is Calculated

IRWD uses a budget based rate structure that is based on the cost of service and has two basic components that make up your water bill: Cost of Water+ Service Charge.

The amount of water used inside and outside your home is calculated using cost of local and imported water.

The service charge is based on daily operation, maintenance and infrastructure costs.

Understanding Your budget

Every residence is given a water budget—think of it as a water budget—based on the number of people in the home and landscape area. A single family home bases the budget on 1,300 sq. ft. of landscape area and four residents. An attached home or condo bases the budget on 435 sq. ft. of landscape area and three residents. Apartment budgets are based on no landscape area and two people.

Your Monthly Indoor & Outdoor Water budgets

Your indoor budget plus your outdoor budget equals the total amount of water your residence is allowed to use monthly.

Indoor budget: No Changes for FY 2015/16. Your indoor water budget will continue to be based on the default number of residents in a home and the type of home. The indoor budget is currently 50 gallons per person per day.

Outdoor budget: Changes from turf to water-efficient landscaping. The new outdoor water budget will provide enough water for water-efficient landscaping rather than grass. Other factors also increase or decrease your monthly outdoor water budget, such as the weather. If you have a lawn, you will likely go over your budget and receive a higher water bill.

Variances from Standard Water budget

Need more water? IRWD offers increases to customers’ water budgets for the following reasons:

• More people living in the home
• Medical needs
• Additional landscaped area
• Livestock
• Other special circumstances

To apply for a variance, visit irwd.com and click on “Request a Variance” on the left-hand side.

Why Are My Rates Going Up?

In addition to the state mandate for water reduction, the main reasons for the rate changes are due to uncontrollable cost increases from:

• Significantly higher operating costs (28 percent increase)
• Higher electricity costs (5 percent increase)
• Higher costs for imported water (2 percent increase)
• Increased charges for pumping local groundwater* (10 percent increase)

*Note: Does not apply to Los Alisos rate area.