IRWD recently honored Hoag Hospital Irvine and Chapman University’s Rinker Health Education Campus as WaterStars – Certified Water-Efficient Businesses. Hoag installed low-flow fixtures and faucets and automatic flush valves, uses water-efficient instrument sterilization, and maintains low water use in its cooling towers and boilers. Hoag’s recycled-water drip irrigation system is activated by weather-based controllers. Combined indoor and outdoor conservation measures save Hoag more than five million gallons of water annually. The Rinker campus installed efficient fixtures, swapped turf for drought-tolerant plants, and upgraded to smart weather-based irrigation controllers. Savings: two million gallons per year, with more anticipated as remaining turf is replaced.

Learn all about WaterStar at rightscapenow.com/programs/waterstar-business-recognition.

This month, IRWD Natural Treatment System staff helped a group of community members rescue a turken chicken that had been dumped at the City of Orange’s El Modena Park, site of IRWD’s El Modena NTS basin. The community members gathered there early on the morning of May 8 to capture the hen and deliver her to Foothill Feed & Grain in Orange, where she will be under the watchful eyes of management until a home can be found. The rescuers named her Winner-Winner.

“Thought it sounded better than Dinner-Dinner, which is what might have become of her down at the pond,” said local nature photographer Noel Laflin, who shared photos of the experience.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT

Public Hearing on Evaluating a Change in the Elections Process for the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors and Establishing Division Boundaries. 

NOTICE is hereby given that the IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT (IRWD) will hold a public hearing, before drawing a draft map or maps of proposed division boundaries, regarding the District’s evaluation of changing the elections process for the IRWD Board of Directors from an at-large method of election to a by-division method of election, and the composition of divisions in accordance with Elections Code Section 10010. The purpose of the hearing will be to invite and solicit public comment on the proposed move to by-division elections and the composition of divisions.

IRWD currently uses an at-large method to elect the members of its Board of Directors. The at-large method allows voters from the entire service area to elect each of the five members of the Board of Directors. A by-division method divides a service area into separate divisions and allows the voters in each division to elect a member of the Board of Directors. Additional information on IRWD’s evaluation of by-division elections and/or public hearing may be obtained by contacting Leslie Bonkowski, District Secretary, at 949-453-5312 or on the IRWD Web site located at irwd.com/about-us/district-election-evaluation-process.

The Board of Directors of IRWD will hold the hearing on Monday evening, June 4, 2018, at 5 p.m. or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in the Board Room of the offices of IRWD located at 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine.

Dated:  May 20, 2018

                                                                        Leslie Bonkowski, District Secretary,

IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT

and the Board of Directors thereof

If someone knocks on your door claiming to be an IRWD employee or contractor, don’t be afraid to ask for identification. If you have any doubts, call 949-453-5300. Keep in mind:

• All IRWD employees carry photo I.D. badges and must show them on request.
• Most IRWD field crew members wear an IRWD uniform with the IRWD logo above the left-hand shirt pocket and the employee’s name on the right side.
• IRWD water efficiency team members usually wear blue or white polo shirts with an IRWD logo embroidered on the left hand side.
• Many but not all IRWD employees will drive an IRWD vehicle when reporting to a customer’s home for a service call or appointment.
• IRWD will never try to sell you anything.
• IRWD employees and contractors will not show up to your home without an appointment, except for emergencies, service starts or stops, and meter repair or replacement.
• IRWD works with several contractors that provide various services to the District’s customers; no contractor should be on your property without an agreed-upon appointment.