Senior Management

IRWD was established in 1961 as a California Water District under the provisions of the state of California Water Code. As a special district, IRWD is able to focus on its four primary services - providing high-quality drinking water, sewage collection and treatment, production and delivery of tertiary-treated recycled water, and urban runoff treatment. As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a five-member publicly elected Board of Directors. Board members are elected by division for four-year terms. The Board is responsible for the District's policies and decision-making. Day-to-day operations are supervised by the General Manager and implemented by staff.

IRWD General Manager

Paul A. Cook is the General Manager of Irvine Ranch Water District.  Irvine Ranch Water District provides retail water and sewer service to nearly 600,000 daytime customers in Central Orange County.  IRWD is well known as an industry leader in many aspects of water quality, supply reliability, and other innovative programs.

Mr. Cook is a registered civil engineer with over 30 years of experience with water and wastewater systems in both the public and private sectors.  Prior to his appointment as General Manager, Mr. Cook served as the District’s Assistant General Manager.  Before joining IRWD, he served as the Manager of Engineering for Central and West Basin Municipal Water Districts in Los Angeles County where he was responsible for a capital improvements program, which included one of the largest water recycling projects in the nation.  Mr. Cook began his career in the construction industry, building both commercial and public works projects.

Mr. Cook received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pacific in Stockton, California.  He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California State University Long Beach and an MBA from the University of California at Irvine.  In 2002, he was elected to the Board of the Orange County Water District where he served through 2005, including a term as Vice President.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for WateReuse California and the California Municipal Utilities Association, where he is currently a member of the Board’s Executive Committee.  He also serves on the Board of Governors for Chapman University, having recently completed two terms as Chair of the Board.

Contact: 949-453-5300
Email: GenManager@IRWD.com