Published: May 10, 2016 | 09:00 AM

May is Water Awareness Month – How Aware are You?

It’s easy to take water for granted. You turn on the tap and it’s there for all of your uses. May is Water Awareness Month and a perfect time to fill you in on what you need to know about your water supply:

Safe water is priority one. Providing our customers with the best water possible is at the heart of our mission. Our 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. IRWD has a state-certified, state-of-the-art water quality lab. Our annual Water Quality Report is available on our website. In addition, your water quality questions may be answered by viewing our online “Frequently Asked Questions.”

Your water supply is reliable. Over the years, IRWD has endeavored to decrease our dependence on costly imported drinking water. IRWD’s balanced water portfolio includes local groundwater and imported water. The blending of these sources varies according to the time of year and your geographic location within the District. 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. Additionally, our diverse water supply portfolio helps to keep rates as low as possible. 

Saving water saves money, and helps keep your water bill low. It’s easier than you think to do more with less water – and we’re here to help. Our philosophy is to give customers as much water as they need through customized water allocations. These allocations are based on the type of home (single or multi-family dwelling), the number of people who occupy your home, and the total area of irrigated landscape surrounding it. If you stay within your water allocation, you will pay some of the lowest rates for water in Orange County. If you choose to use more water than your allocation, then you will be charged for using more than your water budget. If you receive a high water bill, give us a call 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. IRWD features http://rightscapenow.com/ as a great online resource for all things water efficient…tips, tools, rebates, garden/plant information, irrigation schedules, videos, events, webinars, workshops and more. Saving water means saving money.