Published: Jul 30, 2013 | 16:55 PM

Irvine Ranch Water District Engineer Honored

 

An IRWD engineer and the Board of Directors were honored by the Southwest Membrane Operator Association with the 2013 Distinguished Service Award. The awards were presented to Carl Spangenberg, an IRWD 27-year employee, and the board at their June 24 meeting.

Spangenberg served on SWMOA’s Board of Directors from 2007 through 2012. He was a founding member of SWMOA and was instrumental in the growth and development of the organization. IRWD has maintained a presence within the membership of SWMOA since its inception and has hosted workshops and SWMOA board meetings.

The board was honored for their support of the use of membrane technology in many of the District’s projects.

SWMOA is an affiliate of the American Membrane Technology Association and dedicated to the Southwest United states region including Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. The organization was formed to provide membrane operators a forum to exchange information, share experiences and knowledge and to obtain training.

IRWD has three water treatment plants that use membrane technology to purify drinking water. Two more facilities – the upgraded Michelson Water Recycling Plant and the future Baker Water Treatment Plant, will use membrane filtration when they go online.

The Deep Aquifer Treatment System (DATS) went online in 2002. This plant, located in Santa Ana, purifies water from the deepest portion of the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The process removes color from the water caused by ancient vegetation.

The Potable Treatment Plant went online in 2007 and removes salts from groundwater caused by many years of agricultural activity in the area. This plant provides 1.6 billion gallons of drinking water per year to our customers.

The well 21-22 Water Treatment Plant went online this year and recovers and treats local impaired groundwater for use in the drinking water system. Water from these wells and treatment plant is projected to produce approximately 6,300 acre-feet per year of drinking water.

The Michelson Water Recycling Plant is scheduled to be completed later this year and construction on the Baker plant to begin shortly thereafter.

More information about your sources of water is available on our website.