Irvine Ranch Water District
Encyclopedia
Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) is a California Special District
formed in 1961 and incorporated under the California water code. IRWD headquarters are located in Irvine, California
.
IRWD offers the following services: potable water sales, sewer service and sale of reclaimed (or recycled) water and serves the city of Irvine and portions of Costa Mesa, Lake Forest
, Newport Beach, Orange
, Tustin
and unincorporated areas of Orange County
. IRWD has more than 100,000 connections with over 300,000 customers spanning over 180 square miles (466.2 km²) of service area in Orange County.
1. John Withers – John B. Withers has served on the IRWD Board of Directors since 1989 and has been subsequently re-elected to serve on the Board in four elections. He served as President of the Board in 2004 and in a number of other officer capacities as well. Wither serves on the Engineering and Operations and Asset Management Committees as well as various Ad Hoc Committees.
2. Mary Aileen Matheis – John B. Withers has served on the IRWD Board of Directors since 1989 and has been subsequently re-elected to serve on the Board in four elections. He served as President of the Board in 2004 and in a number of other officer capacities as well. Wither serves on the Engineering and Operations and Asset Management Committees as well as various Ad Hoc Committees.
3. Douglas Reinhart – Douglas J. Reinhart was appointed to the IRWD Board of Directors in 2004 to fill a board vacancy and was subsequently appointed to a four-year term in 2006 when he ran unopposed for election. He served as President of the Board in 2009 and 2010, having previously served as Vice President in 2006 and President in 2007. Reinhart serves on the District's Engineering and Operations Committee and the Finance and Personnel Committee.
4. Steve LaMar –Steven E. LaMar was appointed to the IRWD Board of Directors in February 2009 to fill a vacancy and then was elected in the November 2010 election. He is currently serving as Board President through 2011 and is on the Water Resources and Policy Committee.
5. Peer Swan – Peer Swan was elected to the IRWD Board of Directors in 1979. After a term as Vice President of the Board, the Directors elected him President, a position he held from December 1981 until December 1995 and again in 2006. Swan was reelected to the Board without opposition in 2006 and 2010. He currently serves as Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committees and is a member of several Ad Hoc Committees.
, a regional water wholesaler that delivers imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River
.
, transports water 600 miles (965.6 km) from Northern California to the southern portion of the state. It is owned and operated by the State of California and is the longest aqueduct system in the world, featuring 23 dams and reservoirs, 22 pumping plants that lift water to heights of 3500 feet (1,066.8 m), and six power plants. The aqueduct consists of 473 miles (761.2 km) of canals, 175 miles (281.6 km) of pipeline and 20 miles (32.2 km) of tunnels.
brings water 242 miles (389.5 km) from the Colorado River through deserts and over mountain ranges to its terminal reservoir, Lake Mathews
, in Riverside County
. The aqueduct system includes five pumping plants that lift the water 1617 feet (492.9 m).
, originated at IRWD.
is the excess water that carries pollutants into storm drains and then to the ocean. Residents who live miles inland can contribute to ocean pollution simply by leaving their sprinklers on too long. After this wasted water flows to the curb it carries trash, fertilizers, pet waste and other pollutants into the storm drain system which flows into San Diego Creek
, eventually ending up in ecologically sensitive Upper Newport Bay
and the Pacific ocean
. Urban runoff can be prevented by implementing efficient irrigation practices. Additionally, an urban runoff treatment system, like the IRWD Natural Treatment System program, helps protect the San Diego Creek Watershed by naturally removing some of the contaminants in from urban runoff before it reaches the ocean.
. The district uses an allocation-based conservation rate structure.
Under this system, each customer receives a basic allocation of water that provides a reasonable amount of water for customer needs and property characteristics, including the number of occupants, lot size, size of irrigated area, climate, etc. A customer's cost of water is calculated is based upon how much water a customer uses (measured by reading the customers meter) and whether or not the customer stayed within his or her allocation.
During the month, if a customer's water usage exceeds his or her allocation, their cost of water will increase due to the need for IRWD to purchase more expensive sources of water, such as imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
In an attempt to ensure equity among its customers, the IRWD separates the cost of building water and sewer infrastructure from the cost of daily operations and maintenance. Infrastructure costs, called capital projects, are financed through general obligation bonds, the debt service for these is paid through a combination of property taxes and connection fees. Daily operation and maintenance costs, which are further separated between the water and sewer systems, are funded through monthly user service charges. The IRWD's basic principle behind these precise allocations of cost is that each end-user pays his fair share, no more and no less.
IRWD's CAFR has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in each year a CAFR was prepared. This award recognizes governments whose CAFRs achieve the highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting.
Special-purpose district
Special-purpose districts or special district governments in the United States are independent governmental units that exist separately from, and with substantial administrative and fiscal independence from, general purpose local governments such as county, municipal, and township governments. As...
formed in 1961 and incorporated under the California water code. IRWD headquarters are located in Irvine, California
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
.
IRWD offers the following services: potable water sales, sewer service and sale of reclaimed (or recycled) water and serves the city of Irvine and portions of Costa Mesa, Lake Forest
Lake Forest, California
Lake Forest is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 77,264 at the 2010 census.Lake Forest incorporated as a city on December 20, 1991. Prior to a vote of the residents in that year, the community had formerly been known as El Toro since the 1880s...
, Newport Beach, Orange
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
, Tustin
Tustin
-Places:United States* Tustin Legacy, Tustin, California, a master-planned community* Tustin Ranch, Tustin, California, a master-planned community* North Tustin, California, unincorporated area north of the City of Tustin* Tustin, Michigan...
and unincorporated areas of Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. IRWD has more than 100,000 connections with over 300,000 customers spanning over 180 square miles (466.2 km²) of service area in Orange County.
Governance
IRWD is governed by a five member publicly elected Board of Directors. These five elected officials are responsible for the District's policies and decision making. Public elections are held every two years and Directors serve four year terms. Terms are staggered to ensure continuity. The next election will be in November 2012.1. John Withers – John B. Withers has served on the IRWD Board of Directors since 1989 and has been subsequently re-elected to serve on the Board in four elections. He served as President of the Board in 2004 and in a number of other officer capacities as well. Wither serves on the Engineering and Operations and Asset Management Committees as well as various Ad Hoc Committees.
2. Mary Aileen Matheis – John B. Withers has served on the IRWD Board of Directors since 1989 and has been subsequently re-elected to serve on the Board in four elections. He served as President of the Board in 2004 and in a number of other officer capacities as well. Wither serves on the Engineering and Operations and Asset Management Committees as well as various Ad Hoc Committees.
3. Douglas Reinhart – Douglas J. Reinhart was appointed to the IRWD Board of Directors in 2004 to fill a board vacancy and was subsequently appointed to a four-year term in 2006 when he ran unopposed for election. He served as President of the Board in 2009 and 2010, having previously served as Vice President in 2006 and President in 2007. Reinhart serves on the District's Engineering and Operations Committee and the Finance and Personnel Committee.
4. Steve LaMar –Steven E. LaMar was appointed to the IRWD Board of Directors in February 2009 to fill a vacancy and then was elected in the November 2010 election. He is currently serving as Board President through 2011 and is on the Water Resources and Policy Committee.
5. Peer Swan – Peer Swan was elected to the IRWD Board of Directors in 1979. After a term as Vice President of the Board, the Directors elected him President, a position he held from December 1981 until December 1995 and again in 2006. Swan was reelected to the Board without opposition in 2006 and 2010. He currently serves as Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committees and is a member of several Ad Hoc Committees.
District facilities & water supply
IRWD's drinking water comes from two primary sources: local groundwater and imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The blending of these sources varies according to the time of year and the geographic location within the District. In addition, IRWD has an extensive recycled water program that used for irrigation or other non-potable purposes. The District's diversified supply ensures a reliable water supply during times of drought, regulatory constraints and other emergencies. A diverse water supply portfolio helps to keep IRWD rates as low as possible.Groundwater
Approximately 48 percent of IRWD's overall supply comes from local groundwater wells in the Orange County Groundwater Basin, and the Irvine and Lake Forest sub-basins. For many years, IRWD received almost all of its water from imported sources. To alleviate this dependency on expensive imported water, IRWD began to develop a series of local wells in 1979. The Dyer Road Wellfield Project extracts low-cost, high-quality water from deep within the Orange County Groundwater Basin. IRWD now operates 25 groundwater wells within its service area.Imported Water
Approximately 27 percent of IRWD’s water is purchased through the Municipal Water District of Orange County from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaMetropolitan Water District of Southern California
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is the largest supplier of treated water in the US. The name is usually shortened to the "Metropolitan Water District" or simply "MWD". It is a cooperative of 14 cities and 12 municipal water districts that indirectly provides water to 18...
, a regional water wholesaler that delivers imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
.
State Water Project
The State Water Project, also known as the California AqueductCalifornia Aqueduct
The Governor Edmund G. Brown California Aqueduct is a system of canals, tunnels, and pipelines that conveys water collected from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and valleys of Northern- and Central California to Southern California. The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the...
, transports water 600 miles (965.6 km) from Northern California to the southern portion of the state. It is owned and operated by the State of California and is the longest aqueduct system in the world, featuring 23 dams and reservoirs, 22 pumping plants that lift water to heights of 3500 feet (1,066.8 m), and six power plants. The aqueduct consists of 473 miles (761.2 km) of canals, 175 miles (281.6 km) of pipeline and 20 miles (32.2 km) of tunnels.
Colorado River Project
The Colorado River AqueductColorado River Aqueduct
The Colorado River Aqueduct, or CRA, is a water conveyance in Southern California in the United States, operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California . The aqueduct impounds water from the Colorado River at Lake Havasu on the California-Arizona border west across the Mojave...
brings water 242 miles (389.5 km) from the Colorado River through deserts and over mountain ranges to its terminal reservoir, Lake Mathews
Lake Mathews
Lake Mathews is a large reservoir in Riverside County, California, located in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. It is the western terminus for the Colorado River Aqueduct that provides much of the water used by the cities and water districts of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern...
, in Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
. The aqueduct system includes five pumping plants that lift the water 1617 feet (492.9 m).
Recycled Water
IRWD produces approximately 21 percent of its supply by treating wastewater and reusing it for irrigation and other non-potable, or non-drinking, uses.The primary uses of recycled water are agricultural and landscape irrigation including parks, school grounds, golf courses, freeway landscaping and irrigation of common areas managed by homeowner associations. Recycled water is also used for front and backyard irrigation in large residential lots, for industrial processes, and for toilet flushing and cooling towers in dozens of dual-plumbed office buildings. The color of recycled water pipes, known worldwide as Irvine PurpleReclaimed water
Reclaimed water or recycled water, is former wastewater that is treated to remove solids and certain impurities, and used in sustainable landscaping irrigation or to recharge groundwater aquifers...
, originated at IRWD.
Urban Runoff
The California Water Code Section 35539.12 grants IRWD the authority to provide urban runoff treatment services within the District. Urban runoffUrban runoff
Urban runoff is surface runoff of rainwater created by urbanization. This runoff is a major source of water pollution in many parts of the United States and other urban communities worldwide.-Overview:...
is the excess water that carries pollutants into storm drains and then to the ocean. Residents who live miles inland can contribute to ocean pollution simply by leaving their sprinklers on too long. After this wasted water flows to the curb it carries trash, fertilizers, pet waste and other pollutants into the storm drain system which flows into San Diego Creek
San Diego Creek
San Diego Creek is a waterway flowing into Upper Newport Bay in central Orange County in the U.S. state of California. Its basin covers in parts of eight cities, including Irvine, Tustin, and Costa Mesa. The major tributary of the northeast-flowing stream is Peters Canyon Wash, which joins a few...
, eventually ending up in ecologically sensitive Upper Newport Bay
Upper Newport Bay
The Upper Newport Bay is a large coastal wetland in Southern California and a major stopover for birds. Dozens of species, including endangered ones, can be observed here. Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and Ecological Reserve represent approximately 1,000 acres of open space...
and the Pacific ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Urban runoff can be prevented by implementing efficient irrigation practices. Additionally, an urban runoff treatment system, like the IRWD Natural Treatment System program, helps protect the San Diego Creek Watershed by naturally removing some of the contaminants in from urban runoff before it reaches the ocean.
Water Rates
IRWD has some of the lowest water rates in Orange County, CaliforniaOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. The district uses an allocation-based conservation rate structure.
Under this system, each customer receives a basic allocation of water that provides a reasonable amount of water for customer needs and property characteristics, including the number of occupants, lot size, size of irrigated area, climate, etc. A customer's cost of water is calculated is based upon how much water a customer uses (measured by reading the customers meter) and whether or not the customer stayed within his or her allocation.
During the month, if a customer's water usage exceeds his or her allocation, their cost of water will increase due to the need for IRWD to purchase more expensive sources of water, such as imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
In an attempt to ensure equity among its customers, the IRWD separates the cost of building water and sewer infrastructure from the cost of daily operations and maintenance. Infrastructure costs, called capital projects, are financed through general obligation bonds, the debt service for these is paid through a combination of property taxes and connection fees. Daily operation and maintenance costs, which are further separated between the water and sewer systems, are funded through monthly user service charges. The IRWD's basic principle behind these precise allocations of cost is that each end-user pays his fair share, no more and no less.
District Finances & Investments
IRWD uses a long-range planning approach that eliminates the need for dramatic increases in customer rates to pay for new infrastructure (pipes, pumps, reservoirs, etc.) or for the inevitable repair and the replacement of these types of facilities as they begin to age.Financial Reports
Public agencies such as IRWD do not issue a traditional annual report, but rather a much fuller report called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report or CAFR. The report highlights major projects and initiatives in addition to financial data. The CAFR has been the annual financial report of choice for public agencies since it was established in 1945 by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Reports submitted to the CAFR program are reviewed by selected members of the GFOA professional staff and the GFOA Special Review Committee (SRC), which is comprised of individuals with expertise in public-sector financial reporting and includes financial statement preparers, independent auditors, academics, and other finance professionals.IRWD's CAFR has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in each year a CAFR was prepared. This award recognizes governments whose CAFRs achieve the highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting.