Keep Fats, Oils and Grease out of the Sewers
Did you know that nearly 50 percent of sewage overflows nationwide are caused by homeowners who improperly dispose of everyday fats, oils and grease? These overflows are not just public health issues, but can result in serious damage to our environment, especially pollution of streams, bays and the ocean.
With holiday cooking just around the corner, Irvine Ranch Water District would like to remind our customers that pouring fats, oils and grease down the drain could not only result in a costly plumbing repair bill, but could cause sewer overflows, as well.
The enemy is FOG, or fats, oils and grease, when put down the sewer system will build up over time and constrict the flow of wastewater. The grease sticks to sewer pipes and when it builds up, blocks the entire pipe, resulting in costly repairs and cleanups.
To prevent problems, here are tips for getting rid of left over cooking grease:
- Minimize the use of excess cooking oils and grease when cooking or frying.
- Never pour grease down your sink drain, toilet or garbage disposal.
- Place left over grease into containers with lids, such as jars, and place into a trash receptacle for pick up on trash day.
- Mix oils with absorbent materials, such as coffee grounds, put it in a lidded container and dispose with the trash.
- If cleaning a greasy pan, pour grease into a container and wipe excess grease from the pan with paper towels. Place the towels into the trash.
- If using a deep fat fryer, mix oils with absorbent material, such as cat litter, or soak up excess oil with newspaper and put into the trash.
These simple steps will help IRWD protect the environment by preventing sewer spills. Visit our website for more information.
IRWD Toastmasters Group Takes the ‘Eek’ out of Public Speaking
Some people find public speaking scary. Not members of the Water Meeters Toastmasters group, which held its annual Halloween breakfast last week.
The group meets every Tuesday from 7:10-8 a.m. at the Irvine Ranch Water District’s Sand Canyon headquarters office. Water Meeters is not limited to IRWD employees – anyone who is interested in honing their public speaking skills is welcome.
No costumes were present at the Halloween meeting, but member Greg Stevenson wore a T-shirt with the likeness of Frankenstein’s monster. Members sat in a circle with the lights turned off and engaged in “storytelling in the round.” With the lights back on, some shared their personal close encounters with things that go bump in the night.
Mark Dobrilovic, a member of seven years, said he continued as a member of the group even after he moved his employment from Irvine to San Clemente.
“This is great group,” he said.
Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Water Meeters has 25 members and has been in existence for more than 20 years.
Anyone who works or lives in Irvine is welcome to drop by and see what Toastmasters is all about. Meetings are held at 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine. Information is available by contacting Debbie Kanoff, Sergeant at Arms for the group, at (949) 453-5334.
Students Plant Trees at Irvine Ranch Water District Site
Twenty-four students from Orangewood Christian Academy in Garden Grove visited Irvine on October 22 with one goal in mind – to give back to the community. They did so by planting 30 trees and 36 shrubs at Irvine Ranch Water District’s Orchard Meadows Natural Treatment System site.
“The entire school is out today, giving back to the community in some form,” said Helen Dowser, who teaches junior high school science and high school biology. “We do this twice a year. Many here today have never planted a tree.”
Students from seventh to twelfth grade were performing community service at several venues. Some were singing at convalescent hospitals, others were working at food banks and the 24 students visiting the IRWD site were charged with planting the trees and shrubs.
The tree and shrub stock were donated by the Shadetree Partnership, a non-profit organization that has its nursery at UC Irvine. The students spent three hours planting 15 sycamores, 15 alders, 20 buckwheats and 16 coyote bushes.
They were instructed by Dave Asman, IRWD’s landscape contract coordinator, on the proper methods of tree planting. He was assisted by Ian Swift, IRWD’s supervising wetlands biologist, who oversees the NTS sites, and a host of other volunteers.
IRWD has 13 active NTS sites, which includes the 320-acre San Joaquin Marsh. The Orchard Meadow site is 1.5 acres, located on Orchard Hills, off of Portola Parkway in Irvine. The NTS is a cost-effective, environmentally sound method for treating dry weather urban runoff. All of the smaller NTS sites are modeled after the Marsh, which uses ponds to remove nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria from surface waters throughout the San Diego Creek Watershed. The contaminants are prevented from reaching the Upper Newport Back Bay.
In addition to cleaning up urban runoff, the NTS sites and the Marsh provide riparian habitat and water-quality benefits to wildlife throughout the watershed.
More information about the Shadetree Partnership is available on their website. NTS information is available on the IRWD website.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
San Joaquin Marsh the Setting for Docent Day
The Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh provided the ideal setting for OC Wild’s 16th Annual Docent Day on October 19.
Ian Swift, IRWD’s Supervising Wetlands Biologist, was among the nine guest lecturers during the day-long event. The docent workshops featured presentations by researchers, biologists and specialists from Orange County.
The 80 participants could learn about wetlands, cavity nesters, snakes, the Channel Islands, the best hiking opportunities in the county and take guided bird walks. There was even a workshop on scat, the technical term for animal poop.
This is the second time the event was held at the Marsh campus. The first time was in 2009.
OC Wild is a coalition of wilderness land managers and stewards that educate the public about the importance of Orange County’s natural resources. Each October, OC Wild has hosted Docent Day as continuing education for the county’s naturalists, docents, rangers and others who lead public walks and talks about nature.
More information about OC Wild is located on their website. San Joaquin Marsh information is available on our website.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
Exceptional Customer Service is Goal One
High quality customer service, whether it be in person, on the phone or online is the hallmark of the Irvine Ranch Water District. Our customer service tradition features an unwavering commitment to provide the best service at the lowest possible cost to our customers. IRWD’s highly dedicated customer service professionals are available to provide information about many things, from your monthly water bill and bill payment questions to concerns about leaks and meter issues.
While our call center is available every business day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., IRWD customers can also quickly quench their thirst for account-related information by visiting the Customer Care section of the IRWD website for 24/7 access and information.
While visiting the IRWD website, customers can view how-to videos, sign up for eBill and register for the IRWD CodeRED emergency notification system, access their bill, discover multiple bill payment options and request a variance. During regular business hours, IRWD customer service specialists are available to answer questions via email at customerservice@irwd.com, or by calling (949) 453-5300.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
