| The reclaimed water produced at the Michelson Water Reclamation Plant carries an Unrestricted Use Permit from the California Dept. of Health Services. This water meets the stringent requirements of Title 22 of the State Health Code. The reclaimed water produced by IRWD is of such high quality that it can be used for most purposes, including swimming. Thousands of tests are performed each year to ensure water quality.
The primary uses for reclaimed water within Irvine Ranch Water District are:
Landscape irrigation
Parks, golf courses, school playfields, athletic fields, and many common areas maintained by homeowner associations. Over 2,818 landscape meters receive reclaimed water, providing irrigation to over 5,650 acres of landscaping.
Agricultural irrigation
Reclaimed water is used to irrigate most crops grown in this area. The District provides reclaimed water to 44 agricultural users, irrigating over 1000 acres of crops.
Industrial uses
Some industries use reclaimed water in their production processes. One carpet mill converted its carpet dyeing process from domestic to reclaimed water. This one conversion alone saved 500,000 to one million gallons of drinking water per day.
Commercial toilet flushing
Reclaimed water is used to flush toilets in a few dual-plumbed high-rise and other commercial buildings. In a typical office setting, approximately 80 percent of the water is used for toilet flushing. By using reclaimed water instead of drinking water to flush toilets, major savings can be realized. Currently there are several high rise office buildings in addition to Irvine Ranch Water District's headquarters building and operation center buildings using reclaimed water for toilet flushing.
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