What’s in Your Water?

Irvine Ranch Water District released its comprehensive 2023 Water Quality Report. Photo credit Sime Basioli

Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) has released its 2023 Water Quality Report, which is composed of data collected in 2022.

“Irvine Ranch Water District believes in transparency,” says John Fabris, IRWD Communications Manager, via email, “and we’re proud of the results we are reporting.”

This annual report provides an overview of the district's water quality and treatment processes. Here are some takeaways.

Water Sources

Our drinking water is a blend of approximately 65% ground water and 35% surface water.

Our groundwater is primarily from the Orange County Groundwater Basin, a natural underground reservoir spanning the Prado Dam to the portions of Orange County.

Our surface water includes Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (MWD) imported water from the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. We also get water from the Harding Canyon Dam watershed and the Santiago Creek Dam watershed.

Water Processing

We disinfect the water we import from MWD and our local groundwater using chloramines, a chemical compound of ammonia and chlorine. Chloramines effectively kill harmful bacteria and other microorganisms. They are odorless when used properly.

MWD adds fluoride to its imported treated surface water. Our local ground water contains naturally occurring fluoride so it is not supplemented with additional fluoride.

Water Contaminants

Our water meets all state and federal standards for high quality drinking water. While trace amounts of some contaminants are found in IRWD’s water (and in commercially sold bottled water), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water both affirm the levels in our water meet safety standards.

As Fabris explains, “Your water is great to drink, straight out of the tap.”

See the full 2023 Water Quality Report here.