Five Finalists Selected in Water Awarness Poster Contest
Five posters created by local students describing why it’s important to save water have been selected for judging in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s “Water is Life” poster contest.
Irvine Ranch Water District selected the posters from several hundred received from schools in the Irvine Unified, Tustin and Saddleback Unified school districts.
The five finalists will be sent to Metropolitan, where they will compete with posters submitted by water agencies all over Southern California. IRWD has had at least one winner every year for more than 20 years of participation
Once Metropolitan makes its selection, students will be notified in the fall if their posters will be published in the 2015 Water is Life calendar.
The five finalists for 2014 are:
- Khoo Zi Yun (Geraldine) Ang, fifth grade, Alderwood School
- Ashley Lee, second grade, Hicks Canyon Elementary School
- Ethan Ouyeung, third grade, Stonegate Elementary School
- Rayaan Bhagani, third grade, Stonegate Elementary School
- Mannat Bawa, third grade, Stonegate Elementary School
Each student received a certificate and bag of IRWD goodies.
The posters which were not selected as the five finalists will have another chance – they have been sent to the Municipal Water District of Orange County for judging in the poster and slogan contest.
You’re Invited: IRWD Hosts 2014 Blood Drive
Irvine Ranch Water District will be holding its annual spring blood drive on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The UC Irvine bloodmobile will be located in the parking lot adjacent to IRWD headquarters at 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine. The public is invited to participate. IRWD has held blood drives for more than 20 years.
This drive will benefit Orange County’s only Level I Trauma Center. All donors will receive their choice of a t-shirt or a pint of Baskin Robbins ice cream.
In order to donate, donors must:
- Be 17 years of age or older and weigh more than 110 pounds
- Have a valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, employee or student ID are acceptable)
- Be in good health
- Eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donation
- Finish all antibiotics prior to your donation and be symptom-free from any infection or illness
All prospective donors will complete a donor history questionnaire and blood work each time they donate. They must not have had a tattoo within the past year and provide a list of specific destinations and time periods they have traveled outside of the United State in the previous year.
Potential donors may go to https://www.healthcare.uci.edu/blooddrive/Default.aspx?id=irwd to register. Appointments are available every 15 minutes.
How to Prepare Your Emergency Water Supply When Zombies Attack
As zombies crawled the streets of Orange County early Tuesday morning, IRWD took this time to remind customers on how to take precautionary measures with their water supplies.
“The first 72 hours following an emergency are critical,” said a top IRWD official. “We are urging customers to always be prepared with their water should zombies invade the water supply.”
Here are the top ways to prepare your water supply in case of an emergency:
- You should store about one gallon of water per person per day. Three gallons is a decent starting point.
- Water should be stored in carefully cleaned, non-corrosive, tightly covered containers.
- All stored water should be clearly labeled and replenished every six months.
- Water may be polluted after an earthquake or zombie attack. Water that is boiled for five minutes will usually be safe from contamination.
- If boiling is not an option, strain the water through paper towels, paper coffee filters, or several layers of clean cloth to remove any sediment. Treat the water with household liquid chlorine bleach. Add eight drops of bleach per one gallon of clear water, or 16 drops if the water is cloudy. Allow water and bleach to stand for 30 minutes. Purify only enough water at a time to last a maximum of 48 hours.
- You should also learn how to shut off gas, water, and electricity meters.
For more information on how to prepare in case of an emergency and to sign up for emergency notifications, visit irwd.com/emergency-codered.
Photo Credit: AMC Media
Irvine Ranch Water District Board Member Added to Wall of Recognition
Irvine Ranch Water District Board Member John Withers will have his name added to the City of Irvine’s Wall of Recognition located in Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park behind City Hall.
“I’m honored to be recognized and I believe this speaks to the cooperative spirit that exists between the City of Irvine and the District,” Withers said.
The Wall of Recognition contains hundreds of names of community leaders who have helped to shape the city’s beginnings and those who continue to build upon the foundation for the future.
Criteria for nominees to the Wall of Recognition include people who have demonstrated creativity and initiative in providing service to the community, made unique contributions marked by excellence and worthy of honor and showed exceptional determination, character, commitment and leadership.
Withers’ nomination cites his leadership in developing and preserving the San Joaquin Marsh, annexing the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into the City of Irvine, and his ability to work with political leaders from both sides of the aisle. He and the 25 other nominees will be presented with certificates at the May 13 city council meeting.
Withers is a 29-year resident of Irvine and has been a vital member of the IRWD Board of Directors for 24 years. He served as Board Vice President in 2012 and President in 2004. He is currently a member of the Engineering and Operations Committee and Asset Management Committee, as well as various ad hoc committees.
More information about the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors may be found on our website.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
Visit the IRWD Water Recycling Plant and More
There is still plenty of room on the Irvine Ranch Water District Water Awareness Tours, so now is the time to sign up.
Especially featured in the 2014 tours is a walk around the newly expanded Michelson Water Recycling Plant, which has been under massive expansion since the fall of 2009. See a demonstration from our state-of-the –art Water Quality Laboratory professionals on the steps in the water recycling process.
Hop on the bus for a tour of the scenic San Joaquin Reservoir, before heading to the San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary for a tour and lunch.
Tours are available to those who live or work within the IRWD service area. We are unable to accommodate anyone under the age of 16.
The tours are an excellent opportunity to become educated about your source of water, What happens to your water after it goes down the drain, recycled water use and conservation tips.
Tours begin promptly at 9 a.m. at the Michelson Water Recycling Plant and conclude approximately 1 p.m. at the marsh. Included is a continental breakfast and lunch. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested.
Tour dates are:
- Friday, May 30
- Saturday, May 31
- Saturday, June 7
- Friday, September 12
- Saturday, September 13.
The tours fill up quickly and are first-come, first-served based on the date we receive your reservation. Customers may register online at our website. Questions: (949) 453-5500.
