Published: Apr 04, 2017 | 14:19 PM

IRWD Marks 50 Years of Recycled Water

IRWD Recycled Water.
Experienced. Reliable. Innovative.

When it comes to recycled water, IRWD knows its stuff. Five decades of experience combined with a never-ending commitment to improving its technologies and processes have put IRWD at the forefront of the recycled water movement.

While previous investments in recycled water infrastructure have allowed IRWD to grow into one of the most reliable water systems in California, the District is not content to rest on its past achievements. Instead, IRWD's team of water professionals is constantly looking toward the future to find new and better ways to provide its customers with a cost-effective and sustainable recycled water supply.

50 Years of Recycled Water

Irvine Ranch Water District’s foray into the recycled water business began in 1967 when the new Michelson Water Recycling Plant went online. Since those early days, IRWD has gained a reputation as a leader in the recycled water industry — pioneering the use of purple piping, which has become the international symbol for recycled water. IRWD recycled water is used primarily for outdoor watering. It is not for drinking. But every gallon of recycled water saves a gallon of drinking water.

MWRP’s initial capacity was two million gallons per day (MGD), with the finished product served mostly to agricultural customers. The plant has undergone many expansions over the years to accommodate the growth of the area. The last expansion brought MWRP’s capacity up from 18 MGD to 28 MGD. At final build-out, MWRP will be expanded to treat 33 MGD.

Since the IRWD philosophy maintains that water is too valuable to be used only once, recycled water accounts for more than a quarter of our service area’s demands. More than 500 miles of pipe deliver this highly treated product to more than 4,000 customers.

In 1991, IRWD was the first water district in California granted an unrestricted use permit for its high-quality recycled water. This permit allowed the water to be used for the first time inside commercial buildings for toilet flushing. Two high-rises at Jamboree Center became the first two buildings constructed with a dual plumbing system – one of which carries recycled water to restrooms.

IRWD now has 78 buildings in its service area using recycled water indoors. That number is expected to increase to 100 by 2018.

Recycled water is used for irrigation of parks, common areas, school ball fields, golf courses, street medians, greenbelts and agricultural crops.

The IRWD recycled water team constantly researches innovative uses for recycled water. Some of the uses put into effect over the years include air conditioning cooling towers, concrete mixing, and carpet dyeing. Two years ago, IRWD began offering free recycled water to residential customers at its Residential Recycled Water Filling Station.

Moving Toward a New, More Sustainable Future

In recent years, IRWD has begun focusing on cutting-edge sustainability initiatives that go beyond traditional recycled water programs. In doing so, IRWD aims to become much more than just a recycled water leader, with its sights ultimately set on evolving into a regional sustainability leader whose projects and facilities span both the water and energy sectors. To accomplish this goal, IRWD is taking a multi-pronged approach to expanding its sustainability capabilities. This approach involves constructing new energy-efficient facilities, partnering with innovative energy-sector leaders to build dynamic energy storage facilities and investing in alternative water supply programs that supplement the District's existing water suppy, especially during times of drought.

Be on the lookout for upcoming Liquid News articles that will highlight some of IRWD's current ventures into the world of water and energy sustainability. Topics will include:

• Biosolids & Energy Recovery Facility - IRWD's high-tech plant that builds upon the District's highly sucessful recycled water program
• Energy Storage Program - IRWD has teamed up with a leading clean-tech energy storage company to install the largest network of energy storage systems at a public water agency in the United States
• Water Banking Operations - Water Banking provides an important tool to augment imported water reliability and safeguard IRWD customers from imported water shortages