If you were able to see a map of the vast network of pipes and lines in the Irvine Ranch Water District’s service area, it would resemble a bowl of brightly colored spaghetti. The pipes and lines provide drinking water, recycled water for irrigation and other uses and other pipes carry the wastewater away.

The lines and pipes are designed for long service and can be costly or disruptive to repair and replace them.          IRWD water lines can range in size from 60 inches to large supply mains and down to 4 inches to serve homes on a residential street.

Throughout the distribution system, pressures, volu8mes and site conditions can vary greatly, but each element must be designed for a maximum use scenario, such as the heavy demands during the summer irrigation season or for the large volumes needed to fight a fire. Because of these different applications, pipe construction is important to the engineers who design the system.

Many factors can affect the service time of a pipe, depending on the material it is made from – iron, cement, plastic or steel. Are the pipes prone to corrosion, or are the lines and their joints able to stand under earth movement, such as earthquakes, landslides, and traffic vibration.

Other factors include expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, how they are joined together and large variations in the volumes and pressure of the water. Additionally, the pipe must bear the weight of the material under which it is buried.

A construction accident can damage a pipe, either immediately or later, when it develops corrosion at the point of impact. IRWD has a database of the location, age and material of all lines and pipes in the distribution system. Pipes and valves are routinely inspected and tested. Our Leak Detection crews are somewhere in the service area daily checking for leaks. Whenever there is a leak, or pipe failure, the cause is carefully analyzed while repairs are made.

More information about IRWD infrastructure is available on our website.

If you are interested in creating a water-efficient yard, Irvine Ranch Water District has scheduled workshops to help you get started. The first workshop is January 29, beginning at 6 p.m. at the IRWD headquarters office, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine in the multi-purpose room.

Other dates for the workshop are March 7 and March 21.

Experts will be on hand to inform you about a California Appropriate Landscape. Signing up for the workshop is easy – just send an email to calscape@irwd.com. Include your name, the number of attendees and which date you would like to attend.

Please visit the IRWD website to learn more about CALscape, the correct plants, equipment and watering schedules.

Irvine Ranch Water District recently updated its website at www.irwd.com to help improve the customer experience. Here are key updated sections that will save you a phone call by going online:

1. How Do I Find?:   The How Do I Find? section is your one-stop shop for your water bill. Customer Login gives you complete access to your IRWD account. Under Payment Questions, get answers to all of your water bill questions, such as “What payment options do I have?” and “Why is my bill so high?”

The How Do I Find section also gives you quick access to other services you can do online, such as starting or stopping your service or requesting a variance. Save yourself a phone call and check out all the options online.

1. Save Water & Money: This new section of the website is designed to give you all the information you need to save the most water and money on your water bill. Whether you’re a Single-Family Home, Apartment Resident or Business Owner, IRWD has designed sections specifically tailored to your individual needs. Find information on money-saving rebates, proper sprinkler schedules, and gardening advice on CALscape, California-Appropriate Landscaping.

2. Rates and Charges: The Rates and Charges section breaks down the Budet Based Rate Structure IRWD uses to calculate your water bill. Learn how your bill is calculated, determine your monthly water budget and more.

3. Construction Projects: Want to know the latest information on IRWD construction in your neighborhood? Find out construction timelines, traffic impacts, and more on the IRWD Construction Projects section on our website.

To view the complete updated website, visit www.irwd.com

Transparency Center: IRWD is committed to the customers’ right to expect transparent government and easy-to-access information. The IRWD Transparency Center offers information on District operations, public meetings, and ways to do business with the District.  

Donning her white laboratory coat and prescription safety glasses, IRWD laboratory supervisor Mindy Bergen explained to a roomful of seventh graders what it takes to pursue a career in science.

“Stay curious, always ask questions and question the answers,” Bergen said, adding that she received her chemistry degree from UC Irvine, the site of the annual Middle School Science and Career Options Conference on December 17.

She used a student volunteer to demonstrate from a kit how much chlorine was present in a water sample she brought with her. She explained that IRWD’s state-of-the-art Water Quality Lab uses high-tech instrumentation to test samples of both drinking and recycled water.

Bergen was joined by IRWD engineer Barkev Meserlian, who gave a presentation on the nuts and bolts of civil engineering and the level of education it takes for his field.

The Irvine Unified School District has held the annual conference for 22 years, with the goal of increasing student interest and awareness of science-related careers. IRWD has sent representatives to the conference since its inception. In addition to IRWD, professionals from the careers of physics, medicine, medical research, food science, veterinary medicine, wildlife protection, ecology, dentistry, nursing and mechanical engineering participate.

More information about IRWD educational programs is available on our website.