Transparency Center

Our website is dedicated to our customers' right to expect transparent government and easy to access information. We want to ensure that our compensation information is easy to find and that our customers understand the value of the services we provide. Please take a few moments to review our website to learn about our operations, our services and our finances. You will find that we provide a high level of service while maintaining the lowest water and sewer rates in Orange County.

IRWD provides water, sewer, recycled water and urban runoff services to an estimated daytime population of 670,000. We are governed by a five member publicly elected Board of Directors that is responsible for the District’s policies and decision making. IRWD’s General Manager is the chief executive for the District and is responsible for all aspects of day-to-day operations including a staff of 382 and a combined annual Operating and Capital Budget of approximately $345 million.

Special District Leadership Foundation: 2024 Special District Transparency Certificate of Excellence Recipient

Doing Business	Compensation*
Contracts out to Bid Construction Projects Purchasing & Suppliers Engineering & Planning IRWD eNotify IRWD Rules and Regulations for Water, Sewer, Recycled Water, and Natural Treatment Systems	2024 IRWD Compensation - State Controller's Office Website IRWD Board and Senior Staff Compensation Employee Salary Grade Schedule Functional Organization Chart IBEW General Unit Memorandum of Understanding IBEW Non-Exempt Supervisor Unit Memorandum of Understanding
Finance	Retirement and Benefits
FY 2025/26/27 Operating Budget FY 2025/26/27 Capital Budget 2025 ACFR IRWD Finance Center California State Controller Office's Financial Transactions Report Rates and Charges Note: Additional and archived financial reports available here
Ethics and Disclosure***	Board of Directors
Conflict of Interest Policy Expense Reimbursement Policy Business Conduct Standards Enterprise System Catalog Public Official Appointments	Board and Commitee Meetings Board Agenda and Packets Meeting Minutes Archive Goals and Objectives
Water and Sewer Connection Fees
Long Term Capital Budget Board Writeup Exhibit A: FY 2025-27 Capital Budget Presentation Exhibit B: FY 2025-27 Capital Budget Combined Exhibit C: Board Resolution 2026-27 Connection Fees and Tax Rates Board Writeup Exhibit A: Locations Map Exhibit B: Updates to the Rates and Charges for Sewer Connection Fees Exhibit C: Resolution Adopting Changes to Rates and Charges for Sewage Connection 2025-27 Connection Fees and Tax Rates Board Writeup Exhibit A: Proposed Connection Fees and Property Tax Rates Exhibit B: Analysis of Changes within IDs Exhibit C: Key Rate Setting Components Exhibit D: PowerPoint Presentation Exhibit E: Resolution Adopting Changes to Rates and Charges Exhibit F: Resolution Adopting Ad Valorem Property Tax Rates Exhibit G: Resolution Amending Allocation of Ad Valorem Property Taxes to Debt Service Exhibit H: Schedule of Rates and Charges Exhibit I: Recommended Changes to Schedule of Rates and Charges VIEW ARCHIVE
Public Records Requests
Any person who desires to inspect or obtain a copy of any IRWD public record may do so without having to reveal his or her identity or the reason for the request. Requests may be made to the receptionist or District Secretary, by telephone to 949-453-5300 or in writing, email (RecordsRequest@IRWD.com) addressed to the District Secretary. Requests made to other IRWD personnel or departments will be rerouted to the District Secretary, which may delay the response time. View Guidelines for Access to Public Records

*Staff: The employee salary schedule for Fiscal Year 2026-27 was approved by the IRWD Board of Directors on June 22, 2026. The Renewal of Group Medical Plan Services and Healthcare Benefits Contribution Change for Calendar Year 2026 was approved by the IRWD Board of Directors on September 22, 2025.

*General Manager: Paul A. Cook was appointed IRWD General Manager effective October 8, 2011. His current annual salary of $421,644 was effective on October 1, 2025. Each year the General Manager's performance and compensation is reviewed by the Board of Directors.

*Board of Directors: Each year, the Board of Directors reviews and takes formal action to set Board member compensation in accordance with State of California law. On November 13, 2023, the IRWD Board of Directors approved an increase of their fees effective calendar year 2024. Director fees were increased to $331 per meeting, not to exceed 10 meetings per month.

**FY 2025-26 & 2026-27 Operating Budget: The budget was reviewed by the IRWD Finance and Personnel Committee and by the IRWD Board at Public Workshops on March 3 and March 24, 2025. The FY 2025-26 & 2026-27 Operating Budget and Proposition 218 Notices were approved by the Board on March 24, 2025 in compliance with Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.

***Conflict of Interest: IRWD has adopted and follows a Conflict-of-Interest Policy and fully complies with the specific requirements of the Political Reform Act (financial interests and decision making), Government Code Section 1090 (contracts) and other conflict of interest laws.

***Transparency and Accountability: The District fully complies with the Ralph M. Brown Act and other transparency and accountably laws. The District also requires AB 1234 ethics and SB 827 financial training for Board Members, Agency Officials, and Department Heads. Training records can be requested following the Public Records Request instructions outlined above.

These policy and statutory requirements ensure transparency and ethical behavior by water district officials and staff.

Updated: June 2026