Water mains need a good flushing every once in a while to keep them clean. It’s a process that raises eyebrows—seeing precious water rushing from fire hydrants into the street—but it’s a necessary part of the preventative maintenance of our drinking water system. “This process maintains the integrity of the system so we can continue delivering the highest quality water possible,” said IRWD Director of Water Operations Tom Roberts.

Flushing scours the interior of pipes by sending a rapid flow of water through the mains. IRWD began the program in 1993, flushing hydrants one neighborhood at a time. With 1,900 miles of drinking water pipeline, it’s a never-ending process. Water mains more than 12 inches in diameter are flushed annually. Smaller mains are cleaned every three years.

During the flushing process, residents in the immediate vicinity might experience temporary discoloration of their water caused by harmless deposits, which do not affect the safety of the water. If you experience discolored water after crews have been flushing in your neighborhood, clear your home’s pipes by running all of your faucets for a minute or two

Notice anything different about your December 2018 water bill? We redesigned it based on feedback from customers, who said they wanted it to be easier to read without sacrificing detail. See this document for an example of an actual bill with helpful explanations. 

The changes include:

• A simplified account summary, for at -a-glance convenience
• Uncomplicated water usage data
• Detailed breakdowns of how your charges were calculated

And this is helpful: Customers who receive an eBill will no longer have to log in to look at their bill. We will attach a PDF to your email, so you can read it right there. 

Don’t forget to look for your monthly Pipelines newsletter behind the last page of your bill!

Yes, you will continue to receive Pipelines  every month — packed with news, event listings, and money-saving water-efficiency tips. If you get your bill by mail, Pipelines will be in the envelope, behind the last page of the bill. If you receive an eBill, Pipelines will be part of the PDF; just click on the PDF and scroll down to Pipelines, after your bill.

Links:

• Understanding your new bill: An actual bill with helpful explanations
• FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the new bill format

What’s a water bear? And what two natural forces drive the water cycle? Irvine Ranch Water District helps answer these and countless other questions in its educational outreach to the community.

IRWD partners with Discovery Cube on water-related school assemblies and field trips to the San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, where students learn about the natural processes associated with the water cycle, water purification and the importance of water efficiency. The programs are open to any school in IRWD’s service area.

IRWD also teams with Sea & Sage Audubon Society to offer educational programs, tours and classes. These include summer day camps, a hands-on science program, birdwatching, bat-watching, and so much more.

Water bear? It’s an eight-legged creature, also called a tardigrade—one of many microorganisms that break down solids in sewer water as an organic part of water recycling. And for those still wondering: sunlight and gravity drive the water cycle, causing water to evaporate, form clouds and fall as precipitation. This process cleans and distributes life-giving water to the planet.

IRWD believes education is an important part of promoting public awareness and appreciation for the wonder of water. Check out these and other programs—and happy learning!

Learn More

• For information about Discovery Cube programs offered through IRWD, visit discoverycube.org or have your child’s school contact 714-263-3844 to set up an assembly or field trip.
• Visit seaandsageaudubon.org for information. Better yet, stop by the Audubon House, open daily at IRWD’s San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT

Public Hearing on Evaluating a Change in the Elections Process for the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors and Establishing Division Boundaries

NOTICE is hereby given that the IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT (IRWD) will hold a public hearing regarding the District’s evaluation of changing the elections process for the IRWD Board of Directors from an at-large method of election to a by-division method of election, and the composition of divisions in accordance with Elections Code Section 10010. The purpose of the hearing will be to invite and solicit public comment on the draft division maps which have been published by the District and the potential sequence of elections for the directors from each division at different times to provide for staggered terms of office.

The draft division maps to be discussed at the hearing have been published and made available at www.irwd.com/about-us/district-election-evaluation-process.

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. Additional information on IRWD’s evaluation of by-division elections and the public hearing may be obtained by contacting Leslie Bonkowski, District Secretary at (949)453-5312 or on the IRWD Web site located at www.irwd.com/about-us/district-election-evaluation-process.

The Board of Directors of IRWD will hold the hearing on Monday evening, December 10, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in the Board Room of the offices of IRWD located at 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine.

Dated: November 21, 2018

Leslie Bonkowski, District Secretary,
IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT
and the Board of Directors thereof