Pipelines is Irvine Ranch Water District's free monthly newsletter, where you'll find the latest water-saving tips and updates from IRWD on topics including District events, rebate programs, water-saving irrigation scheduling and more.
Weather and your water budget Because your landscape’s water requirements change with the season, so does your water budget. Learn more at IRWD.com/wateringguide .
FEBRUARY 2026
Menzies’ fiddleneck
Gearing up for a month of leak-fixing Every year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency embarks on a weeklong WaterSense campaign focused on fixing leaks inside and outside your home. IRWD expanded this to include a full month of activities. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss a thing. March 1–31: Enter IRWD’s Fix a Leak Sweepstakes for your chance to win Home Depot gift cards. Get started by picking up dye tablets — used to test your toilet for leaks — at IRWD headquarters in Irvine or your local
“ The investments that Irvine Ranch Water District has made in the past, and will make in the future, provide
” —IRWD General Manager Paul A. Cook reliability and value to our customers. Our history of planning local water infrastructure systems for future needs is why IRWD rates are the lowest in Orange County.
Syphon Reservoir, one of IRWD’s four recycled water reservoirs, is undergoing an expansion this year.
Home Depot. Get sweepstakes details at IRWD.com/fixaleak .
Water reliability: a beautiful community partnership
March 7: Attend our Fix a Leak Workshop to learn how to spot leaks and what to do if you find them. Sign up at IRWD.com/events . March 16–22: This is the EPA’s official Fix a Leak Week. Go to epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week for ideas on how to save water.
Like you, we love our community and care about the shared resource of water that we all depend on. IRWD customers are among the most efficient in California, and we appreciate you for that! We strive each day to continue to provide you with outstanding services, which includes making improvements to our recycled and drinking water systems.
more expensive imported water and provide stability in times of drought.
Resilient water systems like ours reflect a unique and enduring partnership between water districts and their customers, and IRWD will continue to ensure you have water reliability and low water rates well into the future. When customers and water districts pull in the same direction, the system works better. We’re in this together, today and long into the future.
These innovations reduce the need for
Mark your calendars for IRWD events What do you have planned for 2026? This year, we have lots in store for our customers! Visit IRWD.com/events and sign up for workshops, community tours and nature walks. All events are free but require registration. New offerings are regularly added — check back often for a heads-up on what’s coming up. Here are a few fun, educational outings on the calendar:
Q: Does Irvine Ranch Water District serve more than just Irvine? A: Yes, we do! IRWD is an independent, not- for-profit special district covering 181 square miles of central Orange County, including all of Irvine, most of Lake Forest, and parts of Newport Beach, Tustin, Costa Mesa, Orange and some unincorporated areas. We serve a daytime population of more than 630,000 people, operating six drinking water treatment plants, two recycled water plants, 27 wells, four recycled water reservoirs and Irvine Lake. More than 4,200 miles of pipeline are used in our drinking water, recycled water and sewer collection systems underground.
Community Tour Saturday, Feb. 21 Michelson Water Recycling Plant
Fix a Leak Workshop Saturday, March 7 IRWD Sand Canyon Headquarters
San Joaquin Marsh Special Tour Wednesday, March 25 San Joaquin Marsh
Bird Walk at the Marsh Sunday, May 3 San Joaquin Marsh
IRWD is also proud to take part in Earth Day celebrations, community festivals and more. Follow us on social media to keep tabs on where we’ll be next! For questions, email info@IRWD.com .
Q: Juan, I want to bring some life back into my landscape this spring. Got any tips? A: Start with a cleanup: removing winter debris and pruning dormant shrubs. Since our soil is typically clay, amend it with 2 to 3 inches of organic compost to improve drainage and nutrient density. Then, inspect your sprinkler system for leaks and get them repaired.
When selecting plants, consider drought-tolerant native shrubs, trees, grasses and succulents that thrive in our Mediterranean climate. California lilacs ( Ceanothus sp. ) and Cleveland sage ( Salvia sp. ) offer stunning spring blooms with minimal water. For at-home harvesting, transplant tomatoes and peppers or sow seeds for squash and cucumbers. Finish by applying a thick layer of mulch to regulate soil temperature and conserve moisture.
Got a question? Email info@IRWD.com .
Send your landscape questions to askjuan@IRWD.com .
California native corner Juan’s February plant: foothill penstemon Foothill penstemon ( Penstemon heterophyllus ) is a native evergreen perennial known for its vivid spring and early summer flowers. Its tubular blooms — ranging from sky blue to deep violet — attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, making it a standout in pollinator gardens. It thrives in dry, rocky or sloped areas and, when planted from a 1-gallon container, will grow into a full, flowering mound up to 3 feet in size within a single growing season.
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24-Hour customer service: 949-453-5300 Email: CustomerService@IRWD.com Address: 15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA 92618 Website: IRWD.com
Board of Directors: Dan Ferons (Div. 4), Steve LaMar (Div. 2), Doug Reinhart (Div. 3),
Peer Swan (Div. 5), John Withers (Div. 1) General manager: Paul A. Cook, PE
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