The Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) remains on target through the end of September to achieve the 16 percent water use reduction mandate set for the District by the State Water Resources Control Board. Over the last four months (June 2015 to September 2015), IRWD customers have conserved nearly 1.3 billion gallons of drinking water, when compared to the same four-month period in 2013.

“We’re proud of the way our customers have saved water at their homes and businesses,” said Steve LaMar, President of the IRWD Board of Directors. “While we’ve done a great job of using less water this summer, we need to continue working hard to sustain this positive momentum during the fall and winter months, when it becomes more difficult to maintain higher levels of outdoor water conservation.”

IRWD is required to reduce District-wide water use by 16 percent by the end of next February. As of September 30^th, the District was approximately 52 percent of the way toward meeting its goal, with five months remaining until the deadline.

The District has long been a leader in the areas of water use efficiency and recycled water programs and earlier this year, began significantly ramping up its efforts in order to meet the State’s mandatory savings target. These efforts included:

• Reducing outdoor potable water allocations district-wide to be based on a drought-tolerant landscape irrigated with an efficient irrigation system, such as drip. Previously, outdoor allocations were based on warm-season turf grass.
• Offering free on-site assistance to help customers reduce wasteful use.
• Providing free water savings recommendations specific to each customer’s household or business. Register for the WaterInsight Program at irwd.waterinsight.com
• Opening one of southern California’s first residential recycled water filling stations, where customers can go 7 days a week to fill up with up to 300 gallons of free recycled water for their landscapes.
• Expanding the District’s recycled water distribution system to new and existing customers. Every gallon of recycled water used saves a gallon of drinking water.
• Continuing to fund turf removal rebates at $2/square foot at a time when many other agencies have temporarily suspended their turf removal rebate programs.
• Increasing customer outreach to both residents and businesses, including hosting a Drought Survival Expo attended by over 1,500 customers and offering weekly drought-tolerant landscape workshops.
• Holding a competition that awarded free landscape makeovers to four IRWD customers who achieved the highest percentage reductions in water use during the summer months. Almost 700 customers participated in the competition, combining for more than 9 million gallons in water savings.

To learn more about the drought and for tips on how to save water, visit irwd.com/drought.

Additional information regarding the District’s Residential Recycled Water Filling Station can also be found online at irwd.com/recycled.

Students needing a little assist on their science fair projects are able to get their questions answered at the annual Irvine Unified School District’s Ask-a-Scientist Night.

Irvine Ranch Water District professionals have participated in this event since its inception more than 20 years ago. More than 0000 students filed through the room dedicated to Water and Earth Earth Science at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School October 14 to sit down with the professionals and hopefully, come away with ideas on how to accomplish their projects.

Joining other science and engineering professionals in talking to students were Jacob Moeder, Engineer/Planner, Mitchell Robinson, Assistant Engineer, and Barkev Meserlian, Engineer.

The science fair is scheduled for Monday, Feb, 22, 2016 at Irvine High School. IRWD professionals will also help judge water-related projects that day.

For more information on our educational programs, please visit our website.

When the leaves change color and the mornings are crisp and cool at the end of October, it’s time for the Sea and Sage Audubon Society’s 23rd annual pancake breakfast at the Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh. The event is scheduled for October 31 from 7:30-10:30 a.m.

Come enjoy flapjacks and sausage hot off the griddle, fresh fruit, orange juice, coffee and milk. After filling your tummies, take a guided walk around the ponds to view the bird life and browse through the collection of used books for sale. Bring your binoculars. There will be spotting scopes set up for maximum bird viewing.

Reservations are required by calling the Audubon House at (949) 261-7963 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. The cost of the breakfast is $10 for adults and $6 for children age six or under. Children under age three are free.

There is something for everyone at the pancake breakfast. Bird walks are scheduled during the morning, before and after breakfast. The book sale begins at 7 a.m.

Stop by the Education table for a great exhibit showcasing some of the art projects the kids made at camp this past summer. Learn about opportunities for adult volunteers to help share a love of nature with school children. Find out about the new education program which combines art with science, plus a host of other exciting education activities to investigate.

In the Duck Club, there will be ample information about the Sea and Sage chapter and many ways to become involved. Raffle cards may be stamped for entry into the drawing for special prizes.

Near the welcome table next to the Audubon House, Wild Birds Unlimited will have a table with bird seed, feeders, and other bird feeding items. They welcome questions about how or what to feed your birds, where to place your bird bath, what plants attract birds, and what to do if the birds are not coming to your feeders.

Optics4Birding will display some of their optics equipment for birders on the back porch of the Duck Club. This is a good opportunity for you to check out the latest in binoculars or scopes and ask questions.

Don't forget to stop by Audubon House to see the taxidermy birds on display, browse through the gift shop and book store, and check out the newly reorganized reference library. Volunteers inside Audubon House will be available to answer questions about Sea and Sage, birds, conservation issues, and education.

Check out the Sea and Sage website for more information.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015 will take place at the Orange County Great Park on eight days over two weekends beginning on October 8.

The event features highly efficient solar powered houses designed and built by collegiate teams, in addition to sponsor exhibits and a variety of activities. IRWD will provide the water to fill the tanks of each of the homes, and will transport the gray water once the event concludes. In addition, IRWD will supply drinking water for the entire venue.

Teaming up for their first Solar Decathlon competition under the name “Team Orange County” are the University of California, Irvine; Chapman University; Irvine Valley College, and Saddleback College. The team designed an innovative, net-zero-energy house that draws inspiration from the California state flower: the golden poppy. Like the flower, Casa Del Sol is drought-resistant and architecturally adapted to Southern California. It features an open design with a flex floor plan and separate studio for multigenerational living or a possible rental.

The Solar Decathlon houses will be open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, October 8-11 and October 15-18. Admission is free. More information is available at http://www.solardecathlon.gov/.