Your toilet is not the place to dump unmentionables. Many products are unsuitable for flushing, including sanitary products, wipes and medications.

Each year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to prevent drugs, particularly opioids, from getting into the wrong hands. In 2017, the event collected a record 456 tons of pills.

In observance of this year’s Take Back Day on April 28, IRWD reminds you not to flush medications. Take them to a collection receptacle at a police agency or participating drug store, such as Walgreens at 13052 Newport Avenue in Tustin. To find a year-round collection center near you, visit takebackday.dea.gov or call 800-882-9539.

Drugs can harm wildlife and pollute the ecosystem. So please dispose of pharmaceuticals properly.

Will you pledge to conserve water this month? If so, you and your city could both be winners.

Before the end of April, just click on mywaterpledge.com and make a series of online pledges as part of the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Cities with the most pledges in each of five population categories will win. And participants from winning cities will be entered to receive hundreds of environmentally friendly prizes, such as $5,000 for home utilities, water-saving fixtures and home improvement gift cards.

Irvine is in it to win it. “I am hopeful that what is a short-term challenge for our residents becomes a long-term practice of conservation,” Mayor Donald P. Wagner said. For more information, see cityofirvine.org.

The Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors has begun the public process to evaluate moving from an at-large election process to division-based elections. The resolution titled “Intent to Initiate the Process of Establishing Divisions and Elections by Divisions” was formally adopted by the IRWD Board on April 2, 2018.

IRWD currently uses an at-large method to elect the members of its Board of Directors. The at-large method allows voters from the entire service area to elect each of the five members of the Board of Directors. A by-division method divides a service area into separate divisions and allows the voters in each division to elect a member of the Board of Directors. Since the enactment of the California Voting Rights Act in 2001, many local governments have gone through a similar public process to evaluate moving to division-based elections.

The IRWD Board of Directors has a strong record of maximizing participation in District affairs by all of our customers. From landscaping and water use efficiency classes to free in-home water-use audits, bilingual programs and websites, IRWD offers meaningful programs and services that provide value to all of our customers. IRWD's comprehensive customer service programs, in conjunction with water and sewer rates that are the lowest in the area, help all area residents, especially those of limited means. Our customers have responded by giving the District a customer satisfaction rating that is consistently over 95%.

IRWD is committed to undertaking a meaningful public process that allows for full public participation, public input, and careful consideration of a transition to by-division elections. We will continue to keep our customers informed on this issue. Please continue to check irwd.com for updates.

In recognition of its ongoing commitment to open governance and operations, Irvine Ranch Water District this week was awarded the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence from the Special District Leadership Foundation, an organization that since 1999 has promoted excellence in local government.

SDLF created the certificate program to promote public transparency and give agencies an opportunity to showcase their methods for engaging with the public and keeping them informed.

The application required — among other things — proof of policies related to codes of ethics and public disclosure, compliance with the Ralph M. Brown open-meetings act, ethics training for board members, financial audits, and other public outreach and communication via the District website, printed materials and public events.

Senior Public Affairs Specialist Connie Ho worked with staff members in various departments to track down documentation and web links — methodically checking off a list of more than 50 items required to apply.

“It was a huge effort, but I’m really excited we earned the certificate,” Ho said. “It shows that we meet the highest standards of transparency, and that’s a good thing when it comes to building trust with the people and communities we serve.”

The application process shed light on ways IRWD could improve its engagement with the public, Ho said. One change made as a result of that experience was to more clearly link to Board of Directors agendas from the irwd.com home page.

General Manager Paul Cook said the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence is gratifying recognition for the District because it acknowledges IRWD’s commitment to open and effective governance.

“This certificate affirms our pledge to be ethical, transparent and accountable in everything we do,” Cook said. “Ultimately, it all boils down to the character of our staff, who have played an important role in shaping the District into what it is today.”