We are often asked if we recommend any type of water treatment device, from water softeners to elaborate filtering systems. The water our customers receive from us meets and exceeds all state and federal mandates, so we don’t recommend any treatment systems. Your water is fine as it is.

However, we recognize that the water we receive from imported sources can be a lot harder than groundwater – in other words, it has a high mineral content. Soft water has a lower mineral content, which some customers might prefer.

If you opt for a water softener for your home, there are a few facts of which you should be aware.

Water softeners which require periodic addition of rock salt or potassium are not encouraged by IRWD because of the discharge of salty brine into the wastewater system. IRWD recycles its wastewater and salt cannot be removed during the recycling process. Much of our recycled water is use for irrigation of public areas and some landscaping cannot tolerate the high salt content produced by water softeners.

But if you desire a water softener, there is an environmentally friendly option – subscribe to a service that picks up and exchanges the cylinder so the salt does not go down the drain. Hooking up the water softener only to the hot water lines will save customers money, as well.

More water quality information is available on our website.

Thirty-six students from all over the Southern California region, including Melody Yu from the Irvine Ranch Water District service area, were honored for their creativity at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s annual “Water is Life” student art event on December 8.

Melody was in third grade at Turtle Rock Elementary in Irvine when her poster was selected by IRWD as one of five finalists to be sent to MWD for regional judging. IRWD received more than 200 entries. Melody’s colorful and detailed poster advised, “Save Water” and featured some girls tending a water-efficient garden.

All 36 posters have been published on the 2017 “Water is Life” Calendar. Melody’s appears on the July page. In addition, Melody’s poster was the featured artwork on the invitation that was sent to all participants for the MWD honor.

This is the 28^th year for the contest, which is sponsored by MWD. Member water agencies, including IRWD, put out the call for poster contest entries from among the schools in their respective service areas.

Beginning in January, the 36 posters will be featured in a traveling art show set up in the lobbies of participating water districts, including IRWD, at a future date. Please visit our website for an announcement of the arrival of the student art show.

Give yourself a holiday gift of water savings and money in your pocket by taking advantage of our rebate programs on high-efficiency clothes washers and toilets, irrigation controllers, rotating spray nozzles, and rain barrels.

In addition, the turf-removal program allows you to receive money by taking out your thirsty grass and replacing it with a beautiful drought-tolerant yard. Receive $2 per square foot of turf removed.

High-efficiency clothes washers use 55 percent less water than standard washers, saving about 75,000 gallons of water over its lifetime. IRWD customers receive up to $250 for replacing their washers.

Other rebates include: $150 for high-efficiency toilets (max of nine toilets); up to $155 for weather-based irrigation controllers; $75 for rain barrels, and $2 per rotating spray nozzles (minimum of 30 nozzles).

For more information and a list of qualified rebate products, visit our website.

Organizers continue to take reservations for the 2017 Children’s Water Education Festival, scheduled for March 29 and 30 at UC Irvine’s Aldrich Park. Teachers of third through fifth grade students within the Irvine Ranch Water District service area are encouraged to register for the event before the December 16 deadline.

The Festival presents a unique opportunity to educate students about local water issues and help them understand how they can protect water supplies and their environment. Since its inception 21 years ago more than 115,000 children from schools throughout Orange County have been able to experience the Festival and all it has to offer.

The 2016 festival hosted students from nearly 75 public, private and home schools from 20 Orange County cities. More than 65 organizations devoted their time and resources to assist in educating budding young environmental stewards. A total of 652 students from the IRWD service area attended the two-day event in 2016.

The Festival is provided at no cost to Orange County schools. Third through fifth grade teachers and students are invited to attend. Go to the festival’s website for information and to register for the event.