For water sources, we have you covered
We are planners at IRWD, so we don’t put all your water in one bucket. Faucets will keep flowing — come rain, shine, or drought — because we plan for reliability and resilience.
One major asset is beneath our feet: the O.C. Groundwater Basin. We’ve been serving its clear water since 1979. Over the years, the community has benefited even more from the basin because it is actively recharged by the Orange County Water District.
If our water looks familiar, that’s because we use it again and again and again. Since 2008, the groundwater basin has been stocked with highly purified, reused water, which percolates into the aquifer with assistance from humans and technology. Meanwhile, IRWD has continued to expand our recycled water program for landscape watering and more.
In today’s world, water systems need to be ready for anything. So, you can be sure we’re already working on multiple plans to keep you covered.
We keep it local
But most of our water comes from local sources, including groundwater, rain capture, and recycling. Local water keeps our community self-sufficient while avoiding the uncertainty, expense, and energy demands of importing water across hundreds of miles.
Groundwater is our primary source
Half of IRWD’s water supply is groundwater from local wells — including clear groundwater, treated groundwater and purified water from indirect potable reuse. It’s the most reliable and cost-effective water.
Clear groundwater
To alleviate dependency on costly imported water, IRWD began developing local wells in 1979. The Dyer Road Wellfield extracts low-cost, high-quality water from deep within the basin. IRWD operates 27 groundwater wells.
Treated groundwater
Some well water is not quite ready for drinking, due to color or salt. So we use advanced treatment technology such as microfiltration, reverse osmosis, decarbonation, and ultraviolet disinfection to make that water appealing and pure.
10%
Treated groundwater accounts for almost 10% of IRWD’s water.
Your water keeps coming back for more
A large and drought-proof portion of IRWD’s water supply comes from treating, purifying, and reusing water that goes down customers’ drains. This includes:
Purified drinking water
Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System takes wastewater that would have been lost to the ocean and purifies it to an exceptional standard with microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light.
25%
This water is absorbed in the O.C. aquifer, which IRWD draws from. It accounts for a quarter of the water we serve.
Recycled water
10%
At IRWD recycling facilities, we collect the water that goes down the drain in your home and turn it into non-drinking water for landscape irrigation and other needs.
When free water falls, we catch it
We have a 63-square-mile watershed. So when rain falls, that’s free water. We capture it in Irvine Lake. Used for drinking and watering, Irvine Lake water makes up about 5% of our supply.
Imported water makes up the rest
Less that 20% of IRWD’s water travels to us through the California and Colorado River aqueducts.
State water project
The State Water Project transports water 600 miles from Northern California. Owned by the state, the California Aqueduct is the longest in the world, featuring 473 miles of canals, 175 miles of pipeline, and 20 miles of tunnels.
Colorado river project
The Colorado River Aqueduct brings water 242 miles from the Colorado River through deserts and over mountains to Lake Mathews in Riverside County. The system’s five pumping plants lift water 1,617 feet.
