Transparency Center

Our website is dedicated to our customers' right to expect transparent government and easy to access information. We want to ensure that our compensation information is easy to find and that our customers understand the value of the services we provide. Please take a few moments to review our website to learn about our operations, our services and our finances. You will find that we provide a high level of service while maintaining the lowest water and sewer rates in Orange County.

IRWD provides water, sewer, recycled water and urban runoff services to more than 403,000 residents in Central Orange County. We are governed by a five member publicly elected Board of Directors that is responsible for the District’s policies and decision making. IRWD’s General Manager is the chief executive for the District and is responsible for all aspects of day-to-day operations including a staff of 337 and a combined annual Operating and Capital Budget of approximately $175 million.

Special District Leadership Foundation: 2024 Special District Transparency Certificate of Excellence Recipient

Doing Business	Compensation*
Contracts out to Bid Construction Projects Purchasing & Suppliers Engineering & Planning IRWD eNotify IRWD Rules and Regulations for Water, Sewer, Recycled Water, and Natural Treatment Systems	2020 IRWD Compensation - State Controller's Office Website IRWD Board and Senior Staff Compensation Employee Salary Grade Schedule Functional Organization Chart IBEW General Unit Memorandum of Understanding IBEW Non-Exempt Supervisor Unit Memorandum of Understanding
Finance	Retirement and Benefits
FY 2023/24/25 Operating Budget FY 2023/24/25 Capital Budget 2023 ACFR IRWD Finance Center Monthly Check Registers California State Controller Office's Financial Transactions Report Rates and Charges Note: Additional and archived financial reports available here	IRWD Retirement Information IRWD Medical Benefits
Ethics and Disclosure***	Board of Directors
Conflict of Interest Policy Expense Reimbursement Policy Business Conduct Standards Enterprise System Catalog Public Official Appointments	Board and Commitee Meetings Board Agenda and Packets Meeting Minutes Archive Goals and Objectives FY 2019/20/21
Public Records Requests
Any person who desires to inspect or obtain a copy of any IRWD public record may do so without having to reveal his or her identity or the reason for the request. Requests may be made to the receptionist or District Secretary, by telephone to 949-453-5300 or in writing, email (DistrictSecretary@irwd.com) addressed to the District Secretary. Requests made to other IRWD personnel or departments will be rerouted to the District Secretary, which may delay the response time. View policy

*Staff: The employee salary schedule and benefits package for Fiscal Year 2023/24 was approved by the IRWD Board of Directors on June 26, 2023.

*General Manager: Paul Cook was appointed IRWD General Manager effective October 8, 2011. His current annual salary of $386,636 was effective on October 1, 2023. Each year the General Manager's performance and compensation is reviewed by the Board of Directors.

*Board of Directors: Each year, the Board of Directors reviews and takes formal action to set Board member compensation in accordance with State of California law. On November 13, 2023, the IRWD Board of Directors approved an increase of their fees for calendar year 2024. Director fees will now be $331.00 per meeting, not to exceed 10 meetings per month.

**FY 2023/24 & 2024/25 Operating Budget: The budget was reviewed by the IRWD Finance and Personnel Committee and by the IRWD Board at Public Workshops on March 6, March 22, April 4, April 10, and April 24, 2023. The FY 2023/24 & 2024/25 Operating Budget was approved on April 24, 2023.

***Ethics: IRWD has adopted and follows a Conflict of Interest Policy and fully complies with the specific requirements of the Political Reform Act (financial interests and decision making), Government Code Section 1909 (contracts), the Ralph M. Brown Act (open meetings), and AB 1234 (compensation, expense reimbursement and ethics training). These policy and statutory requirements ensure transparency and ethical behavior by water district officials.

Updated: January 2024