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customer care

IRWD Logo Image
December 08, 2024 11:38AM
December 08, 2024 11:38AM
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customer care

Senior Management

IRWD was established in 1961 as a California Water District under the provisions of the state of California Water Code. As a special district, IRWD is able to focus on its four primary services - providing high-quality drinking water, sewage collection and treatment, production and delivery of tertiary-treated recycled water, and urban runoff treatment. As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a five-member publicly elected Board of Directors. Board members are elected by division for four-year terms. The Board is responsible for the District's policies and decision-making. Day-to-day operations are supervised by the General Manager and implemented by staff.

 IRWD General Manager

IRWD General Manager

Paul Cook

Paul A. Cook is the General Manager of Irvine Ranch Water District. Irvine Ranch Water District provides retail water and sewer service to nearly 600,000 daytime customers in Central Orange County. IRWD is well known as an industry leader in many aspects of water quality, supply reliability, and other innovative programs.

Mr. Cook is a registered civil engineer with over 30 years of experience with water and wastewater systems in both the public and private sectors. Prior to his appointment as General Manager, Mr. Cook served as the District’s Assistant General Manager. Before joining IRWD, he served as the Manager of Engineering for Central and West Basin Municipal Water Districts in Los Angeles County where he was responsible for a capital improvements program, which included one of the largest water recycling projects in the nation. Mr. Cook began his career in the construction industry, building both commercial and public works projects.

Mr. Cook received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pacific in Stockton, California. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California State University Long Beach and an MBA from the University of California at Irvine. In 2002, he was elected to the Board of the Orange County Water District where he served through 2005, including a term as Vice President. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for WateReuse California and the California Municipal Utilities Association. He is also the Chair of the Board of Governors for Chapman University.

Contact: 949-453-5300
Email: genmanager@IRWD.com

 IRWD Senior Staff


General Manager
Executive Director, Technical Services
Executive Director, Finance and Administration
Executive Director, Operations
Executive Director, Water Policy
Director of Information Services
Director of Human Resources       
Director of Maintenance Operations
Director of Recycling Operations
Director of Safety & Security
Director of Strategic Communications & Advocacy
Director of Treasury & Risk Management
Director of Water Quality & Regulatory Compliance
Director of Water Resources


Paul A. Cook
Kevin Burton
Cheryl Clary
Wendy Chambers
Paul Weghorst
Lance Kaneshiro
Tiffany Mitcham
Jason Manning
Jose Zepeda
Steve Choi
Christine Compton
Robert Jacobson
James Colston
Fiona Sanchez

Senior Management
liquid-img

customer care

IRWD Logo Image
December 08, 2024 11:38AM
December 08, 2024 11:38AM
liquid-img

customer care

Senior Management

IRWD was established in 1961 as a California Water District under the provisions of the state of California Water Code. As a special district, IRWD is able to focus on its four primary services - providing high-quality drinking water, sewage collection and treatment, production and delivery of tertiary-treated recycled water, and urban runoff treatment. As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a five-member publicly elected Board of Directors. Board members are elected by division for four-year terms. The Board is responsible for the District's policies and decision-making. Day-to-day operations are supervised by the General Manager and implemented by staff.

 IRWD General Manager

IRWD General Manager

Paul Cook

Paul A. Cook is the General Manager of Irvine Ranch Water District. Irvine Ranch Water District provides retail water and sewer service to nearly 600,000 daytime customers in Central Orange County. IRWD is well known as an industry leader in many aspects of water quality, supply reliability, and other innovative programs.

Mr. Cook is a registered civil engineer with over 30 years of experience with water and wastewater systems in both the public and private sectors. Prior to his appointment as General Manager, Mr. Cook served as the District’s Assistant General Manager. Before joining IRWD, he served as the Manager of Engineering for Central and West Basin Municipal Water Districts in Los Angeles County where he was responsible for a capital improvements program, which included one of the largest water recycling projects in the nation. Mr. Cook began his career in the construction industry, building both commercial and public works projects.

Mr. Cook received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pacific in Stockton, California. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California State University Long Beach and an MBA from the University of California at Irvine. In 2002, he was elected to the Board of the Orange County Water District where he served through 2005, including a term as Vice President. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for WateReuse California and the California Municipal Utilities Association. He is also the Chair of the Board of Governors for Chapman University.

Contact: 949-453-5300
Email: genmanager@IRWD.com

 IRWD Senior Staff


General Manager
Executive Director, Technical Services
Executive Director, Finance and Administration
Executive Director, Operations
Executive Director, Water Policy
Director of Information Services
Director of Human Resources       
Director of Maintenance Operations
Director of Recycling Operations
Director of Safety & Security
Director of Strategic Communications & Advocacy
Director of Treasury & Risk Management
Director of Water Quality & Regulatory Compliance
Director of Water Resources


Paul A. Cook
Kevin Burton
Cheryl Clary
Wendy Chambers
Paul Weghorst
Lance Kaneshiro
Tiffany Mitcham
Jason Manning
Jose Zepeda
Steve Choi
Christine Compton
Robert Jacobson
James Colston
Fiona Sanchez