Let’s pitch in to help California
Much of our state is suffering under extreme drought conditions, and while IRWD is well-positioned to weather these dry times, we can all do our part to help.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked all Californians to voluntarily reduce water use by 15%. You can do that by taking just a few steps that collectively add up to significant savings. According to the governor’s office, a 15% reduction statewide will save enough water to supply 1.7 million households for a year.
The most significant savings can be achieved outdoors. Generous rebates are available to help you transform your lawn into a beautiful landscape that flourishes with less water.
Right now, IRWD provides rebates of up to $3 per square foot of turf replaced by water-efficient landscaping. We’ll cover half the cost of new pressure-regulating spray bodies used to replace older, inefficient sprinklers. You can also get up to $255 for a weather-based irrigation controller. Visit RightScape.com for a full list of rebates available, or to view a gallery of water-efficient landscape design tips for inspiration.
Simple things inside your home can also save water. Fixing a leaky toilet can save up to 50 gallons a day. Reducing your shower from 10 minutes to 5 can save 10 gallons per shower. Washing full loads of laundry saves up to 16 gallons per load.
Visit SaveOurWater.com for more tips on water savings and rebates.
For more information on IRWD’s investments in new and drought-proof sources of water, visit IRWD.com/LiquidNews.
(Photo caption: Water-efficient landscaping using native plants like this California poppy, (our state flower), can save up to 87 gallons per day.)
Water resilience pays off in dry times
While 2021 and 2022 have been critically dry in California, Irvine Ranch Water District is well-positioned to weather these conditions for several years.
We’re in good shape. But saving water is something to always strive for – rain or shine – and IRWD remains at your service with rebates, workshops, and tips to help.
Because of our long history of investing in new and drought-proof sources of water — and thanks to you, our customers, using water wisely — we are able to fully meet the water needs of our community.
IRWD has created one of the most diverse water supply portfolios in California, with investments in groundwater wells, groundwater treatment systems, local water runoff capture, water banking, and one of the most extensive water recycling systems in the nation.
Our water-budget-based rate structure encourages efficient water use. We also offer ongoing programs and information to give customers the tools they need to save water.
Because of all that, IRWD imports only 18% of our water from outside our immediate area. That means we don’t rely heavily on water from Northern California, where the effects of the current drought are most severe.
Water, like money in the bank, should always be spent wisely. Don’t waste a good thing.
We are in this together, and we all need to continue to do our part to reduce water use where we can. For the latest on IRWD water-efficiency programs, tools and rebates available, visit RightScape.com.
(Photo above: Recycled water keeps our communities green and beautiful.)
Compost, mulch, and summer essentials
Take some time in these summer months to do some garden maintenance. If you have fruit trees, be sure to remove any diseased or dead branches because pruning can help prevent pest infestations. Do transplanting in the late afternoon or evening so that plants have time to recover during the evening before soaking up morning rays. Find more gardening advice for this season in the newest edition of The Dirt at RightScape.com/the-dirt.
Time takes outreach from paper to digital
IRWD uses a variety of communication tools to build relationships with our customers and keep them informed. It started in the 1970s, with a one-page newsletter mailed with billing statements to keep customers updated on District news and events.
In the 1990s, a seasonal water education newsletter was born. Local teachers used it to share information with their students about poster contests, science fairs and fun facts about water. Also in the ’90s, water efficiency was a hot topic due to growing concerns of drought, and IRWD revamped its one-page newsletter to include information on water saving ideas, resources and rebates – a precursor to what is now our monthly Pipelines newsletter.
A special legislative issue of Pipelines in 2006 earned celebrity status with a story on synthetic turf that was part of the PBS video series, “California’s Water” with Huell Howser.
Today, much of IRWD’s outreach is digital: with the District websites IRWD.com and RightScape.com, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, Instagram, videos on YouTube and Vimeo, and customer emails.
In our everchanging world, IRWD has made it a practice to ensure District news and information makes it way to you, our customers. To access our Pipelines archive, visit IRWD.com/learning/newsletters.
Photo: Huell Howser with IRWD staff during a taping of “California’s Water” in 2006.
2021 Water Quality Report
IRWD water meets all the exacting quality standards set by the state and federal government. Visit IRWD.com/water-report to read or request a copy of the new annual Water Quality Report, released this month.
Check out the video "Journey of a Water Sample: How We Safeguard Your Water."
