We’re Ready for Fires or Blackouts
California is facing an extended fire season. And like last year, temporary power outages likely will occur to prevent electrical lines from sparking new blazes in dry and windy weather.
Irvine Ranch Water District is prepared to operate during these Public Safety Power Shutoffs, as well as other urgent situations. If a power shutoff is called in your neighborhood, you should see no disruption in your water or sewer service.
We plan for emergencies in everything we do, making sure backup options are available. Here are some of the steps we take to be prepared:
• Backup power – Permanent generators are set up at IRWD’s critical facilities, and portable generators can be moved quickly to where they are needed.
• Monitoring – We watch local weather to anticipate problems.
• Plan of action – We top off water storage tanks, mobilize equipment and supplies to where they may be needed, and work with other agencies to plan a coordinated response.
• Facilities – Several IRWD facilities have alternative sources of power such as solar to help supplement power needs. Our recycled water reservoirs serve as reliable sources of water to fight wildfires.
Visit IRWD.com/psps for more information and safety tips.
Fire Safety Tips for Your Home
• Create a safety zone around your home by removing dead or dying vegetation.
• Plant fire-resistant plants as a firebreak (monkeyflower, California lilac, autumn sage, common yarrow, French lavender).
• Prepare an emergency escape plan with your family that includes how to respond to an evacuation order.
• Visit ready.gov/wildfires for more information.
Baker Solar Project Supports IRWD’s Sustainability Plan
Water and energy are fundamentally linked: Energy is needed to pump, treat and distribute water, and water is used to generate many forms of energy.
In an age when both resources are increasingly scarce, Irvine Ranch Water District is finding ways to supplement the energy needed for its operations.
As a part of that vision, the District has installed 2,360 solar power modules on top of two underground water storage reservoirs at the Baker Water Treatment Plant in Lake Forest.
These panels generate about 1.1 MW of power – enough to serve about 10% of the plant’s energy needs.
The Baker solar project is an important part of IRWD’s Energy and Greenhouse Master Plan and it supports the District's goals to reduce energy use and incorporate sustainability in our approach to operations.
IRWD has several projects completed or nearing completion to help meet this need through renewable energy and energy storage.
Baker Solar Project:
- 2,360 solar modules generating 1 MW of power.
- Installed with a net-zero loading condition to retain structural capacity of the reservoirs.
- Installed at no cost to the District under a Power Purchase Agreement in which IRWD buys back the power at a fixed rate.
Separate from the solar project, The Baker Water Treatment Plant site includes a 1.22 MW battery storage system – part of the District’s broader Energy Storage System, which stores energy for use during peak hours to reduce the cost of purchased electricity.
Energy Storage Project:
- A 7MW/34MWh network of high-efficiency lithium batteries that store energy and provide on-site power to our operations at six locations districtwide.
- When launched in 2018, it was the largest installation of its kind in the nation.
- A battery can absorb whatever power is available, so it can integrate well with renewable sources of energy.
- Energy is stored in the batteries when rates are low and is used during peak demand when electricity costs are high, saving money.
- The stored energy is also made available to Southern California Edison as a Demand Response resource to help provide energy resilience to the grid during periods of high usage.
- Battery arrays like ours offer a tantalizing long-term application, reducing the number of power plants needed to meet peak electricity demand.
Renewable Energy:
Renewable energy is an important part of our Energy and Greenhouse Master Plan.
The District uses solar power to supplement its energy needs. This includes the 1.1 MW array at the Baker Water Treatment Plant, along with:
- A 100 kW solar power array at the District’s Sand Canyon Avenue headquarters, which provides 20% of the building’s energy needs.
- A 250kW system at the District’s Zone 3 reservoir.
These installations, and future renewable projects to come, will be used to support a more sustainable energy program made possible by the energy storage project.
Biosolids & Energy Recovery Facility:
- This project makes efficient and sustainable use of biosolids resulting from the treatment of sewage.
- Organic solids left over from the process are converted into pellets suitable for use as fertilizer or fuel.
- Biogas produced from the digestion process will be harnessed, cleaned and used as fuel for turbines that generate energy to support operations at the plant.
- Heat from the turbines and sludge dryer will help heat the sludge in the digesters for greater efficiency.
- Makes good use of all byproducts from the recycled water process.
Read more about IRWD’s sustainability programs and its Energy and Greenhouse Gas Master Plan.
An aerial view of some of the panels during construction.
Scientist Mo Wise Explains How IRWD Cleans Urban Runoff
Urban runoff from lawns and hard surfaces is a major source of water pollution.
Irvine Ranch Water District uses a Natural Treatment System to remove harmful elements in the water near their source, naturally.
In a recent video podcast with Orange County Coastkeeper, IRWD Wetland Scientist Mo Wise explains how.
Click here to learn more.
Weed All About It! The Dirt is Here!
Looking for garden inspiration? You can find it in “The Dirt,” IRWD’s new electronic newsletter dedicated to promoting beautiful and water-efficient landscapes in our local Southern California climate.
This quarterly publication will provide helpful tips, resources, and ideas — everything you need to know to create a beautiful outdoor retreat with a plant and color palette that gives your yard interest and saves water, too.
Visit rightscapenow.com/the-dirt to view the spring issue and sign up to receive future copies in your email each season.
Refresh Water When Returning to a Closed Building
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many businesses, schools, homes and other buildings unused for weeks. Once people return to these structures, the water needs to be refreshed.
Under normal use, water pipes maintain a chlorine residual that protects public health and aesthetic water quality. Water that sits for a few weeks becomes stagnant.
To restore your building with fresh water, IRWD recommends that you take the following steps:
1. Identify all water taps, toilets, shower and bathtub fixtures, refrigerator/freezers with an icemaker or water supply, drinking fountains, and any other source of potable water.
2. Turn on all the water taps with drains simultaneously for 10-15 minutes. (Make sure to check that each drain is working properly).
3. While the taps are running with fresh water, flush each toilet to refresh the water tank and empty the old water from the toilet bowl.
4. Dump any old ice in the refrigerator/freezer, and continue to remove the new ice for 3-5 cycles. Run the water from the refrigerator dispenser to refill the water line to the refrigerator.
5. If the hot water has a sulfur smell or other odor, consider draining your water heater before use. (Follow manufacturers' directions carefully for safety and protection from water damage.) And make sure your water heater is set to at least 140°F.
6. Don't forget to check that all water taps have been turned off after flushing.
With these simple steps, you can restore fresh water to your building.
Refreshing the water will also refill drain traps that may have dried out due to evaporation. If your drain is producing an odor, adding water to the drain will fill the trap and create a barrier to prevent sewer gases from entering your home.
IRWD's water supply has continued to meet all state and federal requirements to ensure safe drinking water for our community. For more information, please contact Customer Service at CustomerService@irwd.com or 949-453-5500.
To learn more about health issues related to stagnant water and how to ensure your building is safe, read Guidance for Building Water Systems from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
