Home
/
About Us

About IRWD

Irvine Ranch Water District is an independent special district that provides high-quality drinking water, reliable sewage collection and treatment, drought-proof recycled water and environmentally sound urban runoff treatment for central Orange County.

Aerial view of a suburban lake community with waterfront homes, a turquoise lake, docks, and a small bridge.

IRWD
by the numbers

IRWD serves all of Irvine and parts of Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Tustin, Costa Mesa, Orange and unincorporated Orange County. The District’s service area encompasses about 20% of Orange County.

square miles served
0
district daytime population served
0 +
residential customers
0
miles of drinking water pipelines
0

Stewards of water efficiency

IRWD was established in 1961 as a California Water District under the provisions of the California Water Code. IRWD is well-known for its innovative budget-based rate structure, stable water rates and cutting-edge water efficiency programs, and for providing a diverse, reliable and safe water supply.

On Jan. 23, 2021, IRWD celebrated 60 years of value to our community. This milestone was an opportunity to reflect on our vibrant history as an industry leader, our tradition of high-quality customer service and our unwavering commitment to provide the best service at the lowest possible cost.

Collage of four scenes: a scientist in a lab coat, outdoor science outreach with kids, a man by a lake, and a worker entering a manhole.

Our mission

The mission of Irvine Ranch Water District, a public agency, is to provide high-quality water and sewer services in an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sensitive manner, which produces a high level of customer satisfaction.

Our vision

Irvine Ranch Water District's vision is to achieve greater customer and employee satisfaction, increased reliability and resource conservation and excellent external relationships with suppliers and others.

Our guiding principles

Sunlit lake at sunset framed by tall foreground reeds, with a distant tree line and buildings.
Customer service
We are dedicated to delivering superior service to our customers.
Employee development
We are committed to recruiting and retaining top-quality employees and to providing a workplace environment, training and a recognition and reward system that enhances employee performance and satisfaction.
Resource management
We are dedicated to providing, conserving, and maximizing the efficient use and reuse of water and renewable resources to the benefit of our customers and to enhance the environment.
Community leadership
We will share our resources with the community through education, policy leadership, and employee involvement.

Awards and certifications

View all awards
Man in a light blue button-down shirt with a microphone on a rooftop overlooking campus buildings.
2023
Award of excellence, outreach, and education

Honored by WateReuse for the Virtual Recycled Water Adventures created in partnership with Discovery Cube Orange County.

Learn More
Industrial facility with a large green dome, tanks, and a network of pipes.
2022
Project of the Year Award

Honored by the California Association of Sanitation Agencies for the Biosolids and Energy Recovery Facility.

Learn More
Aerial view of a winding lake in a lush green valley with rolling hills and shrubs.
2021
Syphon Reservoir Improvement Project Campaign

Honored by PRWeek for Best in Public Sector for the planning and rollout of the campaign.

Learn More

History of IRWD

Windmill on a lattice tower at the Irvine Ranch Water District entrance.
1961
Established as a drinking water provider
Wastewater treatment plant with rectangular basins, walkways, and distant hills.
1963
Added sewage collection and treatment
Aerial view of a mixed-use campus with outdoor swimming pools, modern buildings, and surrounding roads.
1967
Started recycled water program
Long concrete irrigation canal with red buoys strung across the water and power lines in the distance.
1979
Began developing local groundwater wells
Outdoor industrial piping system with large purple pipes, valves, and gray storage tanks along brick walls.
1980s
Pioneered the purple pipe, now used worldwide to identify recycled water pipeline
Woman reviewing a document at home with a pen
1991
Adopted budget-based rates
Stormwater drain grate on a wet sidewalk with grass growing in cracks
1997
Began treating urban runoff
Aerial view of a chemical processing plant with several large spherical storage tanks and metal catwalks
2020
Began converting biosolids to fertilizer and fuel

Sustainability initiatives

Water and energy are interdependent. IRWD strives to improve, optimize and reduce its energy consumption.
Learn More

Transparency center

We believe our customers have the right to transparent government and easy access to information.
Learn More

Part of the community

We are proud to engage with customers through water education programs, workshops, and family-friendly events.

Four volunteers in navy shirts with a sunset logo pose beside a full dumpster under a blue Irvine Ranch Water District canopy.
Two men kneel beside filled trash bags on a gravel riverbank while volunteers clean up nearby.
Group of volunteers at Irvine Ranch Water District cleanup under a blue canopy, posing with trash bags.
Family posing in front of a wooden shed display labeled The Shed Show, surrounded by colorful potted plants.
Workers perform a sample collection demo with a beige trough and hose while a child in a hi-vis vest watches.
Three people pose in front of an Irvine Ranch Water District backdrop with logos.
Crowd at an indoor expo watches a plumbing demonstration with PVC pipe rigs on a blue table.
Two hikers wearing hats and sunglasses walk along a sunny nature trail surrounded by shrubs.
Group of adults wearing name badges at an outdoor daytime gathering, with trees in the background.
Woman wearing a white shirt, black sunhat, and sunglasses uses a smartphone by a lakeside with tall reeds.
Group of people on a guided outdoor tour by a wetlands area with a speaker addressing the crowd
Presenter in a blue polo speaks into a microphone to a group seated at long tables in a classroom setting with a large screen.
Group of adults on an industrial facility tour listening to a guide who points toward equipment.
Instructor in a white lab coat points to a screen showing magnified cellular structures as students watch in a classroom lab.
Instructor in a neon safety vest helps two kids cut out bat shapes at a classroom craft table.
Community Evening Tour 071024_MGL8413
Speaker in a black polo at a podium presenting to an audience in a wood-paneled room beside a blue Welcome slide.
Speaker in a green shirt and apron talks to kids in a tented booth, presenting a 'Plant Like a Local' display on a large screen.
Three children wearing neon safety vests and hard hats sit in front of a white utility truck during a safety event.
Group of men networking at a conference, smiling and talking in a bright room.
Two attendees shake hands across a round table at a crowded conference luncheon.
Two men shake hands at a buffet during a social event; one wears a gray blazer, the other a black polo.
Attendee in blue shirt and glasses shakes hands with a colleague at a conference reception.
Smiling girl in a neon safety vest holds a clear cup of mixed snacks at an outdoor event.
Family posing at Irvine Ranch Water District booth with kids in safety vests and a service truck in the background.

Our work matters

IRWD is a values-based organization providing essential water and sewer services to more than half a million people in our community.

  • Competitive pay
  • Unbeatable benefits
  • Professional development and advancement
  • Education and training
  • A collaborative culture of kindness
Compensation and Benefits
Smiling male staff member in a light-blue striped uniform with a visible badge, standing near clothing racks.

Join the team

For general questions on IRWD careers, call 949-453-5349 or email Careers@IRWD.com

WORK AT IRWD