IRWD Receives Certificate of Excellence, Honoring Transparency With the Public
In recognition of its ongoing commitment to open governance and operations, Irvine Ranch Water District this week was awarded the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence from the Special District Leadership Foundation, an organization that since 1999 has promoted excellence in local government.
SDLF created the certificate program to promote public transparency and give agencies an opportunity to showcase their methods for engaging with the public and keeping them informed.
The application required — among other things — proof of policies related to codes of ethics and public disclosure, compliance with the Ralph M. Brown open-meetings act, ethics training for board members, financial audits, and other public outreach and communication via the District website, printed materials and public events.
Senior Public Affairs Specialist Connie Ho worked with staff members in various departments to track down documentation and web links — methodically checking off a list of more than 50 items required to apply.
“It was a huge effort, but I’m really excited we earned the certificate,” Ho said. “It shows that we meet the highest standards of transparency, and that’s a good thing when it comes to building trust with the people and communities we serve.”
The application process shed light on ways IRWD could improve its engagement with the public, Ho said. One change made as a result of that experience was to more clearly link to Board of Directors agendas from the irwd.com home page.
General Manager Paul Cook said the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence is gratifying recognition for the District because it acknowledges IRWD’s commitment to open and effective governance.
“This certificate affirms our pledge to be ethical, transparent and accountable in everything we do,” Cook said. “Ultimately, it all boils down to the character of our staff, who have played an important role in shaping the District into what it is today.”
Money-Saving Tesla Batteries Arrive at IRWD’s Water Recycling Plant
A caravan of 18-wheelers and large hoisting cranes completed delivery on Tuesday of 75 high-efficiency Tesla batteries to the Michelson Water Recycling Plant, where they will be installed as part of Irvine Ranch Water District’s money-saving Energy Storage Program.
For those keeping a running tally – that makes two sites down, nine more to go.
Even with many shipments, setups and connections still needed to make the overall project complete, IRWD General Manager Paul Cook said the Energy Storage Program is turning heads in the industry.
“We call this our award-winning project,” he said. “It’s not even finished yet, but this program is already drawing a lot of interest from all over the country and Canada.” (It has already won the Golden Hub of Innovation Award from the Association of California Cities, Orange County; and the Best Energy Program Award for medium utilities from the California Municipal Utilities Association.)
IRWD’s Energy Storage Program is the nation’s largest network of energy storage systems at a public agency. The purpose of the 6.25 MW/35.7 MWh system is two-fold: It allows the district to store energy when rates are lowest, making it available at peak hours when rates are highest; it also provides a stored source of power for Southern California Edison to tap into when necessary to avoid interruptions in service.
The system will be installed at 6 of IRWD’s largest and most energy-intensive facilities: water recycling plants, water treatment plants, and high-energy pumping stations.
To date, batteries have been installed and are in operation at the Deep Aquifer Treatment System. The Michelson system will be operational soon, and all other locations are scheduled to be up and running by the end of 2018.
The system will be owned and operated by Advanced Microgrid Solutions. The company’s software and predictive algorithms regulate the use, transfer and storage of power in the system for optimum efficiency. A private-public partnership between AMS and IRWD ensures that the water district will save at least $500,000 in energy costs each year. Any excess savings in power will be split between the two partners.
IRWD didn’t have to buy or finance the system, but the district still reaps the rewards, Cook explained.
“It sounds great, green and friendly, but it’s really a money-saver right now,” he said. “When we hook it up with renewable sources of energy, that’s when it will really be green.”
Workers guide one of the system’s battery storage compartments onto its platform at IRWD’s Michelson Water Recycling Plant.
A forklift operator raises a wrapped Tesla battery storage compartment from the bed of a semi-trailer truck during delivery.
IRWD General Manager Paul Cook, right, discusses details of the system with Senior Engineer Jacob Moeder, left, and Project Superintendent Dave Mercer of Core States.
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.
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