Published: Oct 22, 2015 | 07:16 AM

Irvine Ranch Water District on Track to Meet State-Mandated Water Savings Target

The Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) remains on target through the end of September to achieve the 16 percent water use reduction mandate set for the District by the State Water Resources Control Board. Over the last four months (June 2015 to September 2015), IRWD customers have conserved nearly 1.3 billion gallons of drinking water, when compared to the same four-month period in 2013.

“We’re proud of the way our customers have saved water at their homes and businesses,” said Steve LaMar, President of the IRWD Board of Directors. “While we’ve done a great job of using less water this summer, we need to continue working hard to sustain this positive momentum during the fall and winter months, when it becomes more difficult to maintain higher levels of outdoor water conservation.”

IRWD is required to reduce District-wide water use by 16 percent by the end of next February. As of September 30^th, the District was approximately 52 percent of the way toward meeting its goal, with five months remaining until the deadline.

The District has long been a leader in the areas of water use efficiency and recycled water programs and earlier this year, began significantly ramping up its efforts in order to meet the State’s mandatory savings target. These efforts included:

• Reducing outdoor potable water allocations district-wide to be based on a drought-tolerant landscape irrigated with an efficient irrigation system, such as drip. Previously, outdoor allocations were based on warm-season turf grass.
• Offering free on-site assistance to help customers reduce wasteful use.
• Providing free water savings recommendations specific to each customer’s household or business. Register for the WaterInsight Program at irwd.waterinsight.com
• Opening one of southern California’s first residential recycled water filling stations, where customers can go 7 days a week to fill up with up to 300 gallons of free recycled water for their landscapes.
• Expanding the District’s recycled water distribution system to new and existing customers. Every gallon of recycled water used saves a gallon of drinking water.
• Continuing to fund turf removal rebates at $2/square foot at a time when many other agencies have temporarily suspended their turf removal rebate programs.
• Increasing customer outreach to both residents and businesses, including hosting a Drought Survival Expo attended by over 1,500 customers and offering weekly drought-tolerant landscape workshops.
• Holding a competition that awarded free landscape makeovers to four IRWD customers who achieved the highest percentage reductions in water use during the summer months. Almost 700 customers participated in the competition, combining for more than 9 million gallons in water savings.

To learn more about the drought and for tips on how to save water, visit irwd.com/drought.

Additional information regarding the District’s Residential Recycled Water Filling Station can also be found online at irwd.com/recycled.