IRWD has a solid financial foundation to ensure its tradition of excellent service and low rates for our customers. A key element of this foundation is setting aside funds now to pay for future expenses related to refurbishing and replacing the District’s infrastructure assets. These are the assets that enable IRWD to provide, both now and in the future, a highly reliable and cost-effective water and sewer service to more than 330,000 residents of Orange County.

IRWD serves about one fifth of Orange County and has capital assets worth over $1 billion that include more than 1,900 miles of drinking water pipelines, more than 900 miles of sewer pipes, 53 reservoirs and two large water recycling facilities. This year alone, IRWD will invest over $110 million for new facilities and replacement of facilities that have reached the end of their useful lives. Looking out over the next 20 years, IRWD’s future capital infrastructure plan has more than 500 active and planned projects.

All of IRWD’s facilities, whether it be the groundwater wells, pump stations, or pipelines, will need to be repaired at some point and eventually replaced. To prepare for both short-term and long-term expenditures for these projects, IRWD has planned extensively for the infrastructure needs of our customers by designating $404 million in restricted funds in accordance with General Accepted Accounting Principles and the Government Accounting Standards Board.

For many years, IRWD has honored its commitment to protect our customers from unnecessary and costly increases in rates through sound business practices, both technical and financial. Proactive planning for the future provides IRWD customers today’s gold standard in service and reliability at the lowest possible cost.

Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager

reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500

Emergencies come in all forms, whether they are fires, floods or earthquakes. Any of these could cause disruptions in water service, so it is best to be prepared. In honor of Emergency Preparedness Month, here are the top four things you need to know about your water

in an emergency:

1. CodeRED.The first step toward preparing for a water emergency is signing up for CodeRED, the IRWD high-volume, high-speed system for mass emergency notifications. Customers have the option of receiving voice, email or text messages whenever there is an emergency. To sign up for CodeRED, visit www.irwd.com and click on “Emergency & CodeRED.” From there, click on “CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment Form.”

2. Water Storage.A supply of stored water may be your most important survival item. Several

gallons of stored water per person can last two weeks. Commercially bottled water is one option. Containers of heavy, opaque plastic with screw-on lids are best if you bottle your own water. All stored water should be clearly labeled and replenished every six months.

3. Boil Water.After a disaster, tap water may be polluted. Water boiled for five minutes will usually be safe from contamination. If boiling is not an option, strain the water through paper towels, paper coffee filters, or several layers of clean cloth to remove any sediment. Treat the water with household liquid chlorine bleach. Add eight drops of bleach per gallon of clear water, or 16 drops if water is cloudy.

4. Safe Water.There are hidden sources of safe water in your home you may use without purifying. Turn off the energy supply to the water heater and let the tank cool. Let air into the tank by opening a hot water faucet, or disconnecting the hot water line at the top of the tank. Open the faucet at the bottom of the tank to drain water into a clean container. Melted ice cubes from your freezer and many canned foods are packed in water, like vegetables and

beans. Water from the toilet tank, not the bowl, can be a water source unless chemicals have been added for cleaning purposes.

Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500