Cited for helping develop water portfolio, leading to lower rates for IRWD customers

Many successful Irvine Ranch Water District projects developed over the past 32 years have Greg Heiertz’s stamp on them. Heiertz, IRWD Director of Planning and Water Resources, has been recognized by the Orange County branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers as Government Engineer of the Year.

Heiertz is an example of the caliber of IRWD engineers, who have worked diligently to diversify our water portfolio, which helps keep IRWD rates among the lowest in Orange County.

“It’s exciting to be recognized by my peers in the industry,” Heiertz said. “This reflects the quality of work that we as an organization do. It’s as much a statement about the staff and the board and the way we work together.”

Heiertz joined IRWD in 1979 and has been responsible for projects such as the Dyer Road Wellfield, the Irvine Desalter Project, the Deep Aquifer Treatment System, the Michelson Water Recycling Plant expansion and improvements to the Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant, to name a few.

Currently, he develops policies for master planning of water and wastewater facilities and business strategies for planning, water conservation, groundwater, recycled water and water banking activities. He manages the conservation program and oversees a highly qualified staff of 30.

A Diversified Water Supply Enhances Reliability to Meet Customers’ Needs

 Water.  It’s why Irvine Ranch Water District was created 50 years ago. The District provides high-quality drinking water, reliable wastewater collection and treatment, ground-breaking recycled water programs, and environmentally sound urban runoff treatment to more than 330,000 residents. 

“Water is a vital resource, requiring careful management to ensure the needs of present and future generations are met,” said IRWD Board President Steve LaMar.  “Through thoughtful planning and prudent fiscal policies, we cost-effectively manage our water portfolio, while continuing to diversify supplies to enhance future reliability.”

Anyone can deliver water...but IRWD prides itself on delivering much more.  During the past 50 years, we’ve not only delivered water, but value in all we do for our customers and the region. IRWD is known for its progressive programs – from providing quality water, to diversifying our water portfolio and even planning now to ensure future water supplies – we believe in going above and beyond to work efficiently, cost effectively and in an environmentally sensitive way.

High Quality Water

Customers can trust IRWD to provide clean, safe water that meets or exceed all quality standards set by both the state and federal government. Our commitment to innovation makes our water quality laboratory one of the best equipped in Southern California. Our water quality staff continuously monitors the water supply, conducting over a quarter of a million laboratory tests each year from water taken from over 99 sample points throughout the district.

Reliable and Diversified Supply

IRWD has a diverse water supply portfolio to keep rates as low as possible. Everyone’s heard the adage “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” In the water business that means not relying on just one source of water. IRWD works hard to ensure our customers have diverse sources of water for increased reliability now and in the future.

Some parts of Orange County are 100 percent dependent on water from outside this area. Not so at IRWD. Since the late 1970s we’ve been building a network of local wells to ensure reliability and reasonable costs. After all, local water cost less than water that must travel hundreds of miles through aqueducts to reach Southern California.

IRWD's drinking water comes from two primary sources: local groundwater and imported water. The blending of these sources varies according to the time of year and your geographic location within the District. 

Recycled Water:  An Innovative Approach

As a pioneer in the field of recycled water, IRWD believes that water is too valuable to be used just once. Water recycling is an essential component of our water supply portfolio, as any demand met with recycled water reduces the demand for high-quality drinking water. Currently, IRWD meets roughly 25 percent of our service area’s water demands with recycled water. The use of recycled water extends our drinking water supplies, reduces the need for additional potable water facilities, reduces the amount of treated wastewater discharged into the ocean, reduces our reliance on costly imported water supplies, and increases our water supply reliability. In fact, the use of recycled water is a key component of IRWD's conservation and water use efficiency programs as every gallon of recycled water used results in a gallon of drinking water that can be saved for potable uses.

Planning Ahead

Saving for a rainy day is important. How about saving for not-so-rainy day? IRWD has entered into innovative water banking agreements that allow water to be set aside in plentiful years for later use during droughts. This is just one of many ways that we can ensure a reliable water supply.

IRWD delivers value in making sure that when you turn on the tap you get the water you need. We are dedicated to provide, serve and protect water resources for our customers and to enhance the environment.

After three-year process, industrial customer becomes IRWD’s largest consumer of recycled water, helping preserve the drinking water supply

Fortistar Methane Group, owner / operator of a Newport Coast 21 Megawatt gas-to-energy facility located at the Coyote Canyon landfill, is now the largest industrial consumer of recycled water in the Irvine Ranch Water District service area, continuing IRWD’s commitment to innovative recycled water use.  

Fortistar, which converts landfill methane into electricity, switched from potable water to recycled water for most of their non-potable purposes, including the supply of water to its cooling tower, in February.    

 “IRWD is pleased that Fortistar has chosen the environmentally-friendly and water conscious decision to switch to recycled water,” said IRWD General Manager, Paul Jones. “When industrial customers switch to recycled water for non-potable purposes they help to increase the reliability of our limited drinking water supply and they save money—it’s a win-win situation!”   

The three-year long process to connect Fortistar to IRWD’s recycled water distribution system was a team effort involving Fortistar, Orange County Waste & Recycling, the City of Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Fire Department.  All industrial consumers receive recycled water at a discounted rate from potable water.

“One of the more significant issues we face today is how to secure our growing energy needs in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way,” said Tom Gesicki, Managing Director of Fortistar. “We are pleased to be working directly with IRWD and support their initiatives to increase the use of recycled water in and around the Newport Coast.”

IRWD hopes to encourage more industrial customers to consider recycled water for all their non-potable needs. Recycled water is already used in the IRWD service area for agricultural and landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling towers in dozens of dual-plumbed buildings, and for industrial processes including concrete making.  

 The extensive IRWD recycled water program extends drinking water supplies, reduces the need for additional potable water facilities, reduces the amount of treated wastewater discharged into the ocean, and reduces reliance on costly imported water supplies.

Commercial customers can switch to recycled water if their system can be connected to the recycled water pipe system. Companies not only benefit by being environmentally-friendly, but also receive a discount on their water bill.  If your company is interested in connecting to IRWD’s recycled water system and think your property may be eligible, please contact Alex Harris, Recycled Water Supervisor at (949) 453-5576 or harris@irwd.com, to discuss your options. 

For more on IRWD’s recycled water programs, please visit our website.

For more information on Fortistar, please visit www.fortistar.com . 

IRWD Celebrates 15 Years of Participation in the 15th Annual Event

More than 5,000 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from throughout Orange County participated in the 15^th annual Children’s Water Education Festival at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum March 23-24. Irvine Ranch Water District is honored to have been involved in this event since its inception 15 years ago.

“The festival presents a unique opportunity to educate students about local water issues and help them understand how they can protect and preserve water and their environment,” said IRWD General Manager Paul Jones.

Approximately 500 students passed through the IRWD booth over both days to learn about groundwater aquifers, the value of safeguarding the groundwater basin, and groundwater as a valuable local water supply source.

IRWD presented the activity, “Get the Groundwater Picture,” which not only helped to put local groundwater sources into perspective, but students were allowed to “become an aquifer” and “water molecules” all while conforming to California State Science Standards.

Since the festival began, more than 80,000 children from schools throughout Orange County have been able to experience the festival and all it has to offer.  This fun, lively and educational event helps teach our students how to make "blue" and "green" choices to help protect our precious water resources and environment now and for the future.

For more about the IRWD education programs, please visit www.irwd.com/community-programs.