IRWD Receives State Approval for Water Conservation Alternate Plan
The State Water Resources Control Board has approved IRWD’s alternate conservation plan for compliance with the State Board’s Drought Emergency Water Conservation Regulations. On August 15, IRWD submitted an alternate plan for implementation of the Emergency Regulations to the State Board to demonstrate that the District’s budget based rate structure and conservation programs provide a level of conservation superior to that achieved by implementing the limitations contained in the Emergency Regulations.
What are the new Statewide Restrictions?
Effective July 28, 2014, the State Water Resources Control Board enacted Emergency Regulations due to the severe ongoing drought conditions throughout the state. These new regulations prohibit certain outdoor water uses and require urban water agencies to do one of two things:
- Implement mandatory outdoor water use restrictions that restrict outdoor watering to two days a week or implement outdoor water restrictions as dictated by their water shortage contingency plans, OR
- In lieu of number 1, agencies like IRWD who have a budget based rate structure may submit an alternate plan that shows that the level of water conserved due to the rate structure and other conservation programs is superior to that achieved by restricting outside watering to two days a week.
How State Board’s Approval Affects IRWD Customers
With the State Board’s approval of IRWD’s alternate plan, IRWD has implemented Option 2. Due to hard work by IRWD customers and the implementation of a budget based rate structure in 1991, IRWD per capita water use has declined 25% since 1991. IRWD has demonstrated in its alternative plan that the IRWD budget based rate structure achieves excellent water saving results with an average residential water use per person per day around 85 gallons – far below the state average. The State Board’s approval letter commended IRWD’s commitment to using its budget based rate structure to accelerate drought response and found that the District’s other conservation and efficiency programs are exemplary.
The IRWD Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Budget based rate structures are the foundation of IRWD’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan. This rate structure allows IRWD to quickly respond to limited supplies through strong price signals, which result in the greatest conservation response from our customers. The IRWD Water Shortage Contingency Plan meets State requirements and uses the budget based rate structure at all drought levels as well as conservation programs, rather than mandatory restrictions, to achieve necessary water use reductions. Only in the event of an extreme shortage, such as a system outage when supplies are only available for public health and safety needs, will IRWD use mandatory outdoor water restrictions.
More information on the IRWD rates structure and implementation of the new statewide water restriction can be found here.
How IRWD Helps Clean Up Urban Runoff
Irvine Ranch Water District recycles water that goes down the drains and into sewers for reuse in the community, but what happens to the water that flows through gutters and into storm drains?
That water is called urban runoff, caused by any water that flows into storm drains. Inefficient watering of landscape, washing vehicles, or hosing down of sidewalks are contributors. Urban runoff carries with it fertilizers, oils, trash, pet waste, and other contaminants, contributing to ocean pollution when it travels through waterways like the San Diego Creek.
In 1997, IRWD constructed the San Joaquin Marsh, which takes water from San Diego Creek and cycles it though a system of ponds that use plants and soils to naturally clean urban runoff before it flows to the ecologically-sensitive Upper Newport Bay. When the cleaner water returns to the creek, it contains up to 70 percent less nitrates and both sediment and phosphorus have also been reduced.
IRWD has taken the success of the San Joaquin Marsh and expanded the concept to a watershed-wide system of wetlands called the Natural Treatment System. Of the 45 targeted sites, 23 have been built. The NTS sites are anywhere from a quarter-acre to four acres in size and can be viewed from adjacent public areas, such as parks, bike trails and greenbelts.
To find out more, visit our website.
Celebrate Earth Day with IRWD
The third in a series of RightScape workshops is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day.
Come to the Irvine Ranch Water District’s Sand Canyon office from 6-8 p.m. and learn about the right plants, the right equipment, and the right schedule for your landscape.
A light dinner will be provided. Don’t know what to do about the kids? Bring them along! There will be an unsupervised moving showing for children.
You can RSVP on our website.
You, Too, Can be a Superhero and Save the Earth
The world will observe the 45th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22. We all celebrate Earth Day differently and Irvine Ranch Water District’s spokesdog, Roger, has some advice for all water users: Do one more thing to cut your water use!
One more thing can have a huge benefit to your household, neighborhood, community, state, country and the Earth. It’s so easy!
Think about your one more thing to save water: Adjust your water timers to make sure you are watering before 8 a.m. Replace leaky sprinklers or lines. Make sure you are watering your landscape, not sidewalks and driveways. Change out a few thirsty plants for drought tolerant plants. Get a spray nozzle for your hose. Install drip lines.
Take care of the Earth and the Earth will take care of you. Learn more at http://www.irwd.com/save-water-money/rightscape.
Here are Roger’s top 10 ways to be a superhero:
- Check your sprinklers for leaks.
- Water before 8 a.m. to reduce overspray caused by wind.
- Plant water-efficient plants.
- Replace your lawn.
- Check your sprinkler timer settings.
- Buy a weather-based irrigation controller.
- Watch your sprinklers for overspray.
- Use a rain barrel to water your plants.
- Install a drip-irrigation system.
- Take advantage of IRWD rebates to save water and money.
Information about rebates on water-efficient devices is available at www.irwd.com/rebates.
Four Science Fair Winners Chosen
Since the inception of the Irvine Unified School District’s science fair more than 30 years ago, Irvine Ranch Water District professionals have assisted, whether it’s advising during Ask-a-Scientist Night, or judging the water-related science fair projects. This year was no exception and four winners were selected for honors during the science fair on February 24.
Of the several hundred entries, 30 were water-related. Many of the students must have had the drought on their minds, if the subjects were any indication. Some examined the use of gray water, others desalination, some conducted water quality and pollution experiments and some dealt with water chemistry.
The students will be honored at the June 8 IRWD Board of Directors meeting. Judging this year were Melinda Bergen, a supervisor in the chemistry section of the IRWD Water Quality Laboratory, and Jacob Broderick, Water Quality Scientist.
Students whose projects were selected are:
- Hari Garg, grade 11 and Anita Garg, grade 9, University High School, “Pathogen Detection in Southern California Water Using a Particle Counter
- Annie Chang and Daisy Chen, grade 10, Woodbridge High School, “Multi-method Analysis and Spatial Modeling of Bacterial Dynamics in Newport Bay
- Sofia Abolfathi, grade 8, Vista Verde, “Seawater can be Used to Replenish Inland Aquifers”
- Pranathi Kollolli, grade 6, Alderwood, “Solar Powered Water Desalination”
For more information on the IRWD educational programs, please visit our website.
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