Providing safe, clean drinking water — day in and day out Diversity of supply
Water hardness and other aesthetics Water hardness refers to naturally occurring mineral content, mostly calcium and magnesium, which are essential for health and found in all water sources in varying amounts. The white deposits sometimes left by hard water on fixtures or cookware can be removed with a simple vinegar solution, and hard water does not pose a threat to human health. Because water sources vary and are a blend of various sources including local groundwater, local surface water, and imported water, you may notice a difference in the taste or hardness (mineral content) of the water at different times of year. None of these factors affect the safety of your water. Having multiple sources of water is beneficial for IRWD customers.
IRWD has meticulously diversified its water supply and is not dependent upon only one source of water. Your drinking water is a blend of local groundwater, groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin managed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD), and to a lesser degree surface water imported by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), which comes from the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. IRWD also has a local watershed that feeds rainwater to Irvine Lake, which is used as a surface water source. Local water sources keep costs lower for our customers and significantly increase the overall reliability and resiliency of your water supply. In managing these various water sources, IRWD will sometimes switch water sources or blend them based on availability, local geography, treatment needs, time of the year and to assist other partner agencies. Recycled water is another important water source. While not used for drinking, it significantly reduces demand for drinking water. IRWD has been recycling highly treated wastewater since 1967, and it’s now used to irrigate landscaping, flush toilets in large commercial buildings and support industrial functions like cooling towers. Using recycled water for these purposes is important because every gallon of recycled water saves a gallon of high-quality drinking water for you, our customers.
IRWD Water Quality Report 2026 | Page 3
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