IRWD Honors Students for Water-Related Projects at IUSD Science Fair
Miracle Tree Water Purification project by student Jenna Schindele.
Irvine Ranch Water District participated in project judging for the annual Irvine Unified School District Science Fair on Feb. 27 at Portola High School. Students entered more than 35 water-related projects, and four were chosen for recognition. Students will be honored at the IRWD board meeting May 29, and the winning students’ schools will each receive $100 toward their science education programs. IRWD has sponsored the IUSD Science Fair since its inception and congratulates the following students.
Beverly Tsai and Jane Jeon
Category: Grade 6
Beacon Park K-8 School
“Will it Melt”
Krystal Tran
Category: Grades 7-8
South Lake Middle School
“Nitrate Uptake by Algae”
Chamidu Sagara
Category: Grades 9-12
University High School
“The Study of How the Concentration of Acetic Acid in Water Affects Plant Growth”
Jenna Schindele
Category: Grades 9-12
University High School
“Miracle Tree Water Purification”
Ready, Set, Quake
California is earthquake country and you always want to be ready. IRWD suggests you enroll in the CodeRED® Emergency Alert System to receive updated information in any emergency. Just log on to irwd.com and click “Emergency & CodeRED” in the “Customer Care” bar on the left side of the home page. Be aware that the first 72 hours after a quake are critical. So be prepared to be self-sufficient at least that long. Stored water is the most important survival supply. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that you store one gallon per person per day—up to two weeks’ worth if possible.
IRWD Commends Retiring Irvine City Manager
Mary Aileen Matheis, Peer Swan, Sean Joyce, Paul Cook, Steven E. LaMar and Douglas Reinhart participate in the commendation.
Irvine Ranch Water District has commended Irvine City Manager Sean Joyce for his 14 years of service to Irvine.
“He has set a pattern that will move the city forward,” IRWD Director Mary Aileen Matheis said of Joyce, who is retiring this month.
Joyce joined the City of Irvine in July 2004 with more than a decade of experience in city administration. Under his leadership as city manager, Irvine received numerous accolades reflecting the “Best Run City” practices he implemented. That included national recognition of the city's parks system.
IRWD General Manager Paul Cook presented a commendation to Joyce at the Jan. 22 meeting of the District’s Board of Directors.
“It’s been really good to have you at the helm,” IRWD Director Peer Swan told Joyce.
Rescued Pelican Released at San Joaquin Marsh
Newport Beach Animal Control Officer Nick Ott recently released this rehabilitated white penguin back to the wild at IRWD’s San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. More than 282 bird species and 121 native plant species are supported within the 321 acres of the Sanctuary. A place of quiet enjoyment, the Sanctuary also contains over 12.3 miles of nature trails for visitors to savor while hiking, bird watching and studying nature. It is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. For a map and further details, visit irwd.com/san-joaquin-marsh.
UCI Achieves Star-Quality Efficiency
Please join us in congratulating the University of California, Irvine, for earning IRWD’s WaterStar Certification. UCI achieved this recognition by implementing a wide array of water-reduction projects, resulting in more than 78 million gallons saved annually.
UCI’s water savings include:
- High-efficiency toilets, showerheads and faucets in dorm rooms – 45 million gallons a year
- Restroom fixture upgrades in academic buildings – 25 million gallons a year
- Replacement of once-through cooling systems – 5 million gallons a year
- Turf replacement and irrigation upgrades – 3.5 million gallons a year
Also, areas irrigated with drinking water have undergone turf conversions and irrigation upgrades. To date, over 159,000 square feet of turf has been removed across campus and replaced with water-effi cient and drought-tolerant plants.
