Since 1990, California public water utilities have provided

an annual water quality report to their customers. This year’s

report covers calendar year 2020 drinking water quality

testing and reporting. Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) vigilantly safeguards its water supply and, as in years past, the water delivered to your home meets

the quality standards required by federal and state regulatory agencies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(U.S. EPA) and the State Water Resources

Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) are the agencies responsible

for establishing and enforcing drinking water quality standards.

IRWD and other regional water suppliers frequently go beyond what is required by testing for unregulated chemicals that may have health risks but do not have drinking water standards.

For example, the Orange County Water District (OCWD), which manages the groundwater basin; the Metropolitan Water District

of Southern California (MWD), which supplies imported treat- ed surface water; and IRWD, which operates a local surface water treatment plant and several groundwater treatment plants, all test for unregulated chemicals in our water supply. Unregulated chemical monitoring helps U.S. EPA and DDW

determine where certain chemicals occur and whether new standards need to be established for those chemicals.

Through drinking water quality compliance testing programs carried out by OCWD (groundwater), MWD (treated surface water) and IRWD (treatment plants and the distribution system), your drinking water is constantly monitored

from source to tap for regulated and unregulated constituents. The state allows drinking water agencies to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentra- tions of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some

data, though representative, is more than one year old.

This report contains important information about your drinking water. Translate it,

or speak with someone who understands it.

Ce rapport contient des informations importantes sur votre eau potable. Traduisez-le ou parlez en avec quelqu’un qui le comprend bien.

Questions about your water?

Contact us for answers.

If you have questions about this report, please call Lars Oldewage, IRWD water quality manager, at 949-453-5858. To reach IRWD Customer Service and for other information,

please call 949-453-5300,

or email CustomerService@IRWD.com.

Der Bericht enthält wichtige informationen über die Wasser- qualität in Ihrer Umgebung. Der Bericht sollte entweder offiziell uebersetzt werden, oder sprechen Sie mit Freunden oder Bekannten, die gute Englischkenntnisse besitzen.

German

Korean

Questo rapporto contiene informazioni inportanti che riguardano la vostra aqua potabile. Traducetelo, o parlate con una persona qualificata in grado di spiegarvelo.

ItalianJapanese

Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Para mas información ó traducción, favor de contactar a Customer Service Representative. Telefono: 949-453-5300.

SpanishVietnamese

Community participation

The IRWD Board of Directors meets the second and fourth Monday of each month beginning at 5 p.m. at IRWD, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, California 92618.

A copy of this report is also available on our website: IRWD.com. For more informa- tion about the health effects of the listed contaminants in the following tables, call the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Sources of supply

IRWD is committed to providing a clean and reliable water supply for its customers. Our drinking water is a blend of groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin and surface water imported by the Metropolitan Water District. MWD’s imported water sources come from the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. Local groundwater is pumped from a natural underground reservoir that stretches from the Prado Dam and fans across the northwestern portions of Orange County, stretching as far south as the El Toro “Y.” Additional source waters come from the Harding Canyon Dam watershed and the Santiago Creek Dam watershed. Local groundwater comprises approxi- mately 65% of the total IRWD drinking water supply.

Basic information about drinking water contaminants

Drinking water sources (both tap and bottled water) may include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of land or through the layers of the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animal and human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production or mining activities.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic sewage discharges, oil and gas production, mining and farming.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gasoline stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application and septic systems.

The Eastern Branch of the California Aqueduct,

part of the California State Water Project, wends its way towards southern California.

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. EPA and DDW prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reason- ably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Safe from COVID-19

The coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (which leads to the illness COVID-19), does not present a threat to our water supplies.

IRWD’s groundwater comes from deep wells, which do not contain viruses or other pathogenic organisms. Our imported surface water receives advanced water treatment that removes all microorganisms including viruses.

Additional information about COVID-19 and your water supply is available from the California Water Boards at waterboards.ca.gov.

Drinking water fluoridation

Fluoride has been added to U.S. drinking water supplies since 1945. In December 2007, MWD joined a majority of the nation’s public water suppliers in adding fluoride to drinking water to help prevent

tooth decay. MWD was in compliance with all provisions of the State's fluoridation system requirements.

IRWD’s local groundwater contains naturally occurring

fluoride, but is not supplemented with fluoride. Fluoride levels in drinking water are limited under California state regulations at a maximum dosage of 2 parts per million.

There are many places to go for additional information about the fluoridation of drinking water:

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

800-232-4636 • cdc.gov/fluoridation

State Water Resources Control Board,

Division of Drinking Water

waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/ certlic/drinkingwater/Fluoridation.html

American Water Works Association: awwa.org

For more information about MWD’s fluoridation program, please contact Edgar G. Dymally at 213-217-5709 or at edymally@mwdh2o.com.

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic organism that, when ingested, can cause diarrhea, fever, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The organism comes from animal and/or human waste and may be in surface water. MWD and IRWD tested the source waters and treated surface waters for Cryptosporidium in 2020 and did not detect it.

If detected in any drinking water samples, Cryptosporidium is eliminated by an effective treatment combination including sedimentation, filtration and disinfection.

The U.S. EPA and the federal Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contami- nants are available from the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Immuno-compromised people

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised people, such as those with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy, people who have had organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly people and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

Total coliform rule

This Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) reflects changes in drinking water regulatory requirements instituted during 2016. All water systems are required to comply with the state Total Coliform Rule. Effective April 1, 2016, all water systems are also required to comply with the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule.

The new federal rule protects public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system by monitoring for the presence of microbials (i.e., total coliform and E. coli bacteria). U.S. EPA anticipates greater public health protection as the new rule requires water systems that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and resolve potential issues. Water systems that exceed a specified frequency of total coliform occurrences are required to conduct an assessment to determine if any sanitary defects exist. If found, these must be corrected by the water system.

Chloramines

Water imported from MWD and locally produced ground- water contains chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, as a drinking water disinfectant. Chloramines effectively kill bacteria and other microorganisms that may cause disease.

Chloramines have no odor when used properly. People who use kidney dialysis machines may want to

take special precautions and consult their physician for the appropriate type of water treatment.

Customers who maintain fish ponds, tanks or aquariums should also make necessary adjustments in water quality treatment, as these disinfectants are toxic to fish.

For further information or if you have any questions about chloramines please visit IRWD.com or call 949-453-5300.

About lead in tap water

IRWD meets all standards for lead in the U.S. EPA Lead and Copper Rule. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems,

especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.

IRWD is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before

using water for drinking or cooking. IRWD encourages you to collect the flushed water and reuse it for another beneficial purpose, such as watering potted plants.

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and

steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the

Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at epa.gov/safewater/lead.

If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish

to have your water tested.

Nitrate advisory

Nitrate in drinking water at

levels above 10 mg/L is a health risk for infants of less than six months old. Such nitrate levels in drinking water can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in a serious illness; symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin.

Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L may also affect the ability of the

blood to carry oxygen in other individuals, such as pregnant women and those with certain specific enzyme deficiencies.

If you are caring for an infant or are pregnant, you should ask advice from your health care provider.

Your water has been tested for many more chemicals than are listed above, including metals (such as mercury), pesticides, volatile organics and PFAS compounds. Chemicals not detected in any water sources are not included in the table. *Contaminant is regulated by a secondary standard to maintain aesthetic qualities (taste, odor, color).

**There is currently no MCL for hexavalent chromium. The previous MCL of 10 ppb was withdrawn on September 11, 2017.

ppt = parts-per-trillion; ppb = parts-per-billion; ppm = parts-per-million; pCi/L = picoCuries per liter; ND = not detected; n/a = not applicable; NR = not required to be tested; NL = Notification Level; < = average is less than the detection limit for reporting purposes;

MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level; (MCLG) = federal MCL Goal; PHG = California Public Health Goal; µmho/cm = micromho per centimeter;

46. = Treatment Technique; RAA = Highest Running Annual Average; NTU = nephelometric turbidity units

Chart legend

What are water quality standards?

Drinking water standards established by U.S. EPA and DDW set limits for substances that may affect consumer health or aesthetic qualities of drinking water. The chart in this report shows the following types of water quality standards:

• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
• Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.
• Primary Drinking Water Standard: MCLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements and water treatment requirements.
• Regulatory Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

What is a water quality goal?

In addition to mandatory water quality standards, U.S. EPA and DDW have set voluntary water quality goals for some contaminants. Water quality goals are often set at such low levels that they are not achievable in practice and are not directly measurable. Nevertheless, these goals provide useful guideposts and direction for water management practices. The chart in this report includes three types of water quality goals:

• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by U.S. EPA.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
• Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

How are contaminants measured?

Water is sampled and tested throughout the year. Contaminants are measured in:

• Parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
• Parts per billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (µg/L)
• Parts per trillion (ppt) or nanograms per liter (ng/L)

Notice of violation

Due to a failure to monitor as required for drinking water standards during the past year, Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) was in violation of the regulations. Even though this failure was not an emergency, as our customer, you have the right to know what happened, what IRWD did to correct the situation, and that your water is safe to drink.

Q: What happened? Where did the violation occur?

1. IRWD is required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether our drinking water meets health standards.
   During the once-per-week sampling for the week of September 27 through October 3, 2020, IRWD did not collect from seven sites for Total Coliform Rule sampling. Therefore, we do not have data indicating the absence of total coliform bacteria in drinking water within two of our distribution zones, Zone 2 and Zone 4, during that week in 2020.

Map of IRWD Service Area – Zone 2 and Zone 4

Map of Zone 2 – detail

Map of Zone 4 – detail

Q: What is Total Coliform Rule sampling?

1. Total coliform bacteria are a large group of bacteria that are naturally present in the environment. This group of bacteria is unlikely to cause illness. However, in drinking water, they are used as an indicator to show if potentially harmful waterborne pathogens may be present, or whether a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system.
   IRWD tests for the presence of total coliform bacteria on over 100 samples that are collected from the District’s drinking water distribution system weekly. These samples are collected from IRWD’s drinking water storage tanks, source wells, treatment plants, turnouts and distribution sample points. Among these, there are 60 drinking water distribution sample sites that are Total Coliform Rule regulatory sample sites.
   The District further evaluates for the presence of E. coli (Escherichia coli) in any weekly Bacteriological sample that tests positive for Total Coliform indicator bacteria. E. coli is a fecal coliform bacterium found in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals. The presence of E. coli bacteria in a sample can indicate the possibility of fecal contamination which is suggestive of the possible presence of pathogens.

Q: What did IRWD do to correct the situation?

1. The table below lists: the contaminant(s) we did not properly test for during the week of September 27, 2020; how many samples IRWD is required to take and how often; how many samples we took; when samples should have been taken; and the date on which follow-up samples were taken.

During the week that the seven Total Coliform Rule samples were not collected, 53 Coliform Rule samples were taken throughout the District’s drinking water system. None of these samples indicated the presence of Total Coliform Bacteria in the District’s drinking water.

Additionally, Total Coliform data collected by the District’s Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) over the previous 10 years shows that the water being provided to the two affected distribution zones, Zone 2 and Zone 4, has been consistently safe for customer consumption on a week-to-week basis.

Weekly Total Coliform Rule sampling by IRWD resumed in its entirety immediately following the fifth week of September 2020, and the Total Coliform Bacteria results continue to consistently show that the water continues to be safe. As a corrective action, the District has implemented two redundant sample tracking systems to assure that all weekly Total Coliform samples are collected in a timely manner.

Q: What do you need to do?

1. There is nothing you need to do.

Notification requirements for schools, residential rental property, and business property within Zone 2 or Zone 4:

• Schools must notify school employees, students and parents (if the students are minors).
• Residential rental property managers (including nursing homes and care facilities) must notify tenants.
• Business property owners, managers or operators must notify employees of businesses on the property.

Imported (MWD) water assessment

Every five years, MWD is required by DDW to examine possible sources of drinking water contami- nation in its State Water Project and Colorado River source waters.

The most recent watershed sanitary surveys of its source water supplies from the Colorado River was updated in

2015 and the State Water Project was updated in 2016. Both source waters are exposed to stormwater runoff, recreational activities, wastewater discharges, wildlife, fires, and other watershed-related factors that could affect water quality.

Water from the Colorado River is considered to be most vulnerable to contamination from recreation, urban/stormwater runoff, increasing urbanization in the watershed, and wastewater. Water supplies from Northern California’s State Water Project are most vulnerable to contamination from urban/stormwater runoff, wildlife, agriculture, recreation, and wastewater.

U.S. EPA also requires MWD to complete one Source Water Assessment (SWA) that uses information collected in the watershed sanitary surveys. MWD completed its SWA in December 2002. The SWA is used to evaluate the vulnerability of water sources to contami- nation and helps determine whether more protective measures are needed.

A copy of the most recent summary of either Water- shed Sanitary Survey or the SWA can be obtained by calling MWD at 800-CALL-MWD (800-225-5693).

(IRWD) Baker Water Treatment Plant water assessment

The Baker Water Treatment Plant receives untreated surface water from MWD (see MWD water assessment above) and untreated surface water from Santiago Reservoir. The surface water assessment of Santiago Reservoir is provided by Serrano Water District, which also uses source water from Santiago Reservoir.

The most recent sanitary survey for Santiago Reservoir was updated in 2019. Water supplies from Santiago Reservoir are most vulnerable to septic systems and wildfires. The Source Water Assessment for Santiago Reservoir was completed in April 2001. The assessment was conducted for the Serrano Water District by Boyle Engineering Corporation with assistance from the Serrano Water District staff.

A copy of the complete assessment may be viewed at the IRWD Water Quality Department, 3512 Michelson Drive, Irvine. You may request a summary of the assessment by writing to District Secretary, Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, California 92618.

Groundwater assessment

An assessment of the groundwater sources in the Lake Forest service area of IRWD was completed in December 2002. This groundwater is considered most vulnerable to contamination from dry cleaners and sewer collection systems.

An assessment of the groundwater sources in the Dyer

Road Well Field was completed in July 2003. This ground- water is considered most vulnerable to contamination from gas stations, historic gas stations, metal plating/

finishing/fabrication facilities, military installations and plastics/synthetics producers.

An assessment of the groundwater sources in the Wells 21-22 Desalter Project was completed in

May 2009. This groundwater is considered most vulnerable to contamination from sewer collection

systems, automobile (gas stations), historic gas stations and underground storage tanks (confirmed leaking tanks). An assessment of the groundwater sources in the

Irvine Desalter Project was completed in March 2006. This groundwater is considered most vulnerable to contamination from crop irrigation and fertilizers.

An assessment of the groundwater source in the Orange Park Acres service area of IRWD was completed in March 2003. This groundwater is considered most vulner- able to contamination from sewer collection systems. An assessment of the groundwater in the Santiago Canyon service area of IRWD was completed in January 2003. There have been no contaminants detected in the water supply, however the source is still considered vulner- able to contamination from historical mining operations. Copies of the complete assessments may be viewed

at the IRWD Water Quality Department, 3512 Michelson Drive, Irvine. You may request a summary of the assessments by writing to District Secretary, Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, California 92618.