As part of California’s fourth annual Water Professionals Appreciation Week, Irvine Ranch Water District is pleased to celebrate the people who provide safe, plentiful water and reliable sewer service.

“Water Professionals Appreciation Week is a great time to say thank you to IRWD’s talented and dedicated employees,” General Manager Paul Cook said. “Now more than ever, as we work through the pandemic, we provide a truly essential service for our community.”

Recent labor studies estimate California’s water industry employs 60,000 people and needs about 6,000 new employees each year due to turnover. The industry offers a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities in engineering, biology, finance, business administration, law, communications and more.

Water Professionals Appreciation Week — Oct. 3–11 this year — was established by the state Senate in 2017. The measure was sponsored by a coalition of water associations led by the Association of California Water Agencies, WateReuse California, California Municipal Utilities Association, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, and California Water Association. The annually designated week begins on the first Saturday of October and ends on Sunday of the following weekend.

Smart technology offers several new add-on devices that can monitor and send you real-time alerts about your water use. Some will shut off the water to your home if a leak is detected.

If you are looking into getting one of these devices, take heed: IRWD does not permit the type affixed to the water meter. If we find one, or any other unauthorized equipment inside the meter box, we will remove it.

Why? IRWD owns the water meter, the meter box and everything inside it. We prohibit tampering of any kind within the box because we need to ensure unimpeded access to the meter as a part of our ongoing operations.

Section 12.4 of the District’s Rules and Regulations states, “Customer owned smart metering equipment installed on District meters is prohibited as set forth in section 4.7 of these Rules and Regulations.” Furthermore, section 4.71 states, “Installation by anyone other than the District of any equipment installed in a District facility, including a meter box or pressure regulating valve (PRV) vault onto any meter or PRV, is ‘tampering.’ This includes but is not limited to leak detection equipment, flow sensors, batteries or antennas. If any unpermitted equipment is installed it will be removed by District staff.”

What type of flow monitoring device should you consider?

If you are thinking about investing in a home water monitoring system, limit yourself to those installed between your property line and your home.

Some attach to the outside of the pipe, and others are installed in-line with the pipe so the water flows through them.

The real-time information provided by this technology can benefit customers because it tracks water use and encourages efficiency.

And, when it comes to preventing flooding in your home, devices with the water shutoff function provide added security that could save you from the grief of costly water damage repairs.

• Where’s your meter box? How does the meter work? Learn more here.

Local firefighters warn that wildfire risks are on the rise. So take control of your vulnerabilities. How you maintain and landscape the five feet around your home or business can make a big difference.

• Keep the corners of the building clear of combustible materials.
• Use noncombustible mulch, such as rock.
• Keep the lawn properly irrigated and use low-growing, non-woody plants. Shrubs and trees are not recommended in the five-foot zone.
• Remove dead vegetation and avoid the accumulation of fallen leaves, needles, and other flammable materials.

Learn more:

• For additional advice, see this flier from Cal Fire and the Newport Beach Fire Department.
• Assess your home’s fire vulnerability and read tips from the O.C. Fire Authority.
• Learn how IRWD stays prepared — and how you can too.

Disasters don’t wait. Make your plan today.

That’s the tagline for this year’s National Preparedness Month, an annual observance in September to remind us to check on our safety plans and supplies.

IRWD is always on the ready, keeping watch to respond to emergencies in our service area, patrolling canyon areas and monitoring operations for risks from fire, power failures, or other emergencies. Backup generators and fuel tanks are prepared at all times should we need them.

We also participate in ongoing training and emergency drills with the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County and other agencies to establish a coordinated response to whatever comes our way.

But the safety of our community doesn’t stop there. Individuals must also do their part to prepare themselves and their families.

Here’s what the Department of Homeland Security recommends we all do during this national safety observation month.

• Make a plan: Talk to friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after disaster. Make sure that plan complies with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations due to the coronavirus.
• Build a kit: Gather supplies that will last several days for everyone in your home. Visit ready.gov/kit for details. In addition to water, food and other supplies, this year’s recommendations include masks and disinfectants for dealing with COVID-19.
• Assess risks: Consider the types of emergencies you may be facing due to your location and living conditions. For instance, if wildfire is a threat from nearby open spaces, create a safety zone around your home. Visit ready.gov/wildfires for more.
• Alerts: Sign up to receive emergency alerts to keep you informed during times of crisis. Enroll in IRWD’s CodeRED alert system at IRWD.com/emergency-codered/services/emergency.