In the Midst of Drought, Be Water Aware in May
The drought serves to remind us that water is something we cannot live without, yet it’s easy to take for granted. You expect water to flow when you turn on the tap. Do we ever wonder how we would react if no water came out?
Irvine Ranch Water District reminds our customers that they can trust us to provide clean, safe water for everything you need it for. Since May is Water Awareness Month, this is a perfect time to advise you about what you need to know about your water supply.
Your 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 in our state-certified, state-of-the-art water quality lab. The annual Water Quality Report is available on our website.
You can depend on your water supply. IRWD has worked hard to decrease our dependence on costly imported drinking water with a balanced, diverse water portfolio. IRWD's drinking water comes from two primary sources: local groundwater and imported water.
About one-third of IRWD's drinking water is purchased from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. This imported water comes from the Colorado River via the Colorado River Aqueduct and from Northern California via the State Water Project.
Another two-thirds of our drinking water supply comes from local groundwater wells in the Orange County Groundwater Basin, the Irvine sub-basin and in Lake Forest. 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. This diverse water supply portfolio helps to keep rates as low as possible.
If you receive a high water bill, we can help you figure out why. Each customer has a water allocation based on the type of home, the number of occupants and the total area of surrounding landscape. Staying within your allocation will help keep your rates low.
If you receive a high water bill, contact us 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. Use our website as an online resource for all things water efficient - tips, tools, rebates, garden/plant information, irrigation schedules, videos, events, webinars, workshops and more.
In addition, please check out our drought portal to take the 20 percent pledge, or to find connections to state and federal resources.
Drought? You Can Help!
Did you know that 60 percent of a home’s total water is used outdoors? Become a drought buster – join your fellow Californians in reducing your water use. Look outdoors to save the most water.
Check your sprinklers. Watering your landscape efficiently is the biggest way to reduce your water usage. It is important to check your sprinklers for leaks and overspray – your sidewalks don’t need to be watered.
Have you considered switching to rotating sprinkler nozzles? Rotating nozzles use 20 percent less water than standard sprinkler heads. IRWD currently offers a rebate for $4 per nozzle. Check out the IRWD Calscape page for more information.
Use our Watering Schedule. Take the schedule from the IRWD billing insert, Pipelines, and place it near your timer, or give it to your gardener.
Using this IRWD suggested watering schedule will help properly irrigate your yard using the least amount of water necessary.
Start with this schedule and increase the times only if your plants start dying. If this occurs only in isolated areas, check the operation of your irrigation system before increasing the time.
Install a Smart Timer. Be the most efficient person in your neighborhood: install a smart timer, or weather-based irrigation controller (WBIC).
Most homes use a sprinkler timer, which leaves lots of room for human error because it needs to be programmed manually. Using a smart timer maximizes efficiency and saves water.
A smart timer is a weather-based irrigation controller that determines how much to water your landscape based on actual site specific weather conditions, such as temperature and humidity. Use the coupon from your May Pipelines to receive a $500 rebate for a timer - $380 per clock, plus an additional $120 for installation.
Check out our website for information on smart timer rebates.
Landscape Workshop Coming Up
It’s that time of year when many of us are thinking of spring planting and Irvine Ranch Water District can help.
Come to a free landscape workshop at the Irvine Ranch Water District headquarters building on Wednesday, May 28, 6 p.m., to have all of your questions answered by the experts.
Learn about creating a drought-resistant garden, without sacrificing color and aesthetics. Our address is 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine. To sign up, email calscape@irwd.com and include your name and number of attendees.
Irvine Ranch Water District Supports Korean Cultural Festival
The 5th Annual Irvine Korean Cultural Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Irvine Civic Center Piazza, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine.
Join IRWD as we celebrate Irvine’s diverse cultural heritage. All are welcome and admission and parking are free. IRWD is proud to support this event. More information is available at www.irvinekoreanfestival.com
Summer Camps Abound at IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
School will be out for summer before we know it and it’s time to think about summer camp. Look no further than your own back yard – the Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh. Sea and Sage Audubon and the Discovery Science Center are gearing up to once again present their unique summer camps at the Marsh.
Sea and Sage has provided summer nature camps at the Marsh for more than 20 years. The first offering is Fledgling Camp for the younger set – seven and eight year-olds. This camp takes place June 23-27, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Campers will learn observational skills on daily bird nature walks, where they will learn to keep a birding journal. Games, learning songs and doing crafts will keep campers busy.
Marsh Bird Camp sessions are June 23-27 and July 7-11, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Campers will explore all aspects of Marsh bird life, enjoy daily nature walks, see live hawks and owls from a rehabilitator, paint a birdbath, keep a nature journal, do crafts and much more.
Birds, Bugs and Blossoms Camp is July 14-18, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for campers 11 years and older. This camp will cover birds, bugs, and native plants of the neighborhood. Campers will take daily walks, an off-site field trip, enjoy craft activities, learn bird should and participate in a scavenger hunt.
Visit the Sea and Sage Audubon website for information on how to register for camp.
The summer camp partnership between IRWD and the Discovery Science Center is entering its fifth year. Camp offerings are for children ages five through 10.
Summer Smiles camp is geared toward the adventurous five and six-year-olds. Camps will investigate the world of frogs, bats, butterflies and crabs. They will use magnifiers to get an up-close look at butterfly wings, concoct ooey, gooey slime, make a bat box, and grind their own colorful sand. The young explores will learn the purpose of the Marsh’s natural filtration ponds during nature hikes in this scenic setting. The dates for this camp are July 7-11, July 21-25 and August 18-22, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Project Discovery is for youngsters aged seven to 10. Campers will enjoy a series of challenge-based activities, such as testing different models for flight, dropping an egg without breaking it and constructing a catapult. They will get to test their creations in a fun and friendly camp-wide competition. Campers will investigate the secrets of the solar system and take a close look at our planet. Dates for this camp are June 30-July 4, July 14-18, July 28-August 1, August 11-15, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Information about Discovery Science Center summer camps is available on their website.
