12/26/10 UPDATE: IRWD Crews Continue to Work to Restore Water Service to Williams Canyon

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

As of 6:30 p.m. December 24th, all Irvine Ranch Water District customers in Williams Canyon have access to potable (drinking) water.  Customers who are without water service to their home can obtain drinking water from a 2,000-gallon water truck that has been placed on Williams Canyon Road by the split in the road near the bridge.

IRWD crews have completed the first bypass after overcoming some challenges with high groundwater entering the pipe trench.  After disinfecting and thoroughly flushing the new line, the system was charged up to Williams Reservoir, allowing IRWD to begin refilling the reservoir.  Additionally, the temporary access road through the Canyon was smoothed out a bit and is now generally passable.  The operation of the Foothill Zone 4 to 6 Booster Pump Station was restored; it had failed completely because water had entered the station during the storm.

Work on the second bypass, a 700-foot-long HDPE above-ground pipeline, will begin on Monday.  Once this bypass is completed and put in service, the normal operation of the water system can be restored.

Customers with questions should call the IRWD 24-hour emergency hotline at 949-453-5300.