Congratulations to our newest WaterStar certified restaurant, Il Fornaio Irvine.

IRWD’s WaterStar program recognizes local businesses and restaurants for their sustainable practices and responsible water use that betters our community.

Il Fornaio Irvine is an authentic Italian restaurant specializing in premium-quality, housemade Italian food using the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. Established in 1972 in Italy as a baking school, Il Fornaio is renowned for its adherence to Italian cooking tradition and techniques. In 2013, Il Fornaio was certified Authentic Italian and awarded the Marchio Ospitalita honor by the Italian government, confirming that Il Fornaio is the best authentic Italian dining experience outside of Italy.

This gorgeous restaurant offers its guests an award-winning culinary journey through Italy, all while ensuring its daily operations use water in the most efficient way possible. Il Fornaio's kitchen, restrooms and other spaces feature water-efficient appliances such as Energy Star-certified dishwashers and ice machines, low-flow pre-rinse spray valves, high-efficiency faucet aerators, and high-efficiency toilets. By using these types of applicances every day, Il Fornaio showcases its committment to being a true WaterStar for our community!

Thank you to Il Fornaio for its commitment to efficient use of water every day.

Il Fornaio Irvine is located at 18051 Von Karman Ave. Learn more at ilfornaio.com.

If you’d like to learn how your business or restaurant can get WaterStar certified, visit IRWD.com/waterstar.

Irvine Ranch Water District hosts an annual business outreach luncheon for members of the business outreach program, which is now IRWD Connect.

This year's luncheon was held on June 25 and more than 100 attendees networked and learned about IRWD.

To learn more about the program, visit IRWD.com/connect. 

Once again this year, Orange County surpassed other regions in the state with top water-quality marks on Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card. Irvine Ranch Water District is proud to be part of efforts resulting in A+ grades for two top-ranked beaches: Los Trancos and Muddy Canyon.

IRWD uses diversion pump stations at these Crystal Cove sites to divert polluted urban runoff to sewers, where it is later treated and recycled as part of Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System. This decreases the amount of pollution that makes its way to our beaches from activities such as washing your car or hosing off a sidewalk.

“Los Trancos and Muddy Creek were heavily polluted before IRWD’s involvement,” said Ian Swift, IRWD’s Natural Resources Manager. “The extensive work of staff over recent years has contributed significantly to the improvement in water quality.”

District staff from various teams — including Collection Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Natural Treatment Systems — collaborate daily to operate the pump stations 24/7. It’s just one of many examples of our longstanding commitment to sustainability.

Other examples include the San Joaquin Marsh and 45 other wetland sites, which naturally treat urban runoff in the San Diego Creek Watershed before it makes its way to the Upper Newport Bay and ocean.

Learn more about Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card and read the full report here.

Learn more about IRWD’s Natural Treatment System at IRWD.com/nts.

IRWD is proud to be part of water quality efforts resulting in A+ grades for two top-ranked beaches: Los Trancos, seen here, and Muddy Canyon.

IRWD uses diversion pump stations like this area of Los Trancos near the Crystal Cove Tunnel to divert polluted urban runoff to sewers, where it is later treated and recycled as part of Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System. This lessens the amount of pollution that makes its way to our beaches from activities such as washing your car or hosing off a sidewalk.

Congratulations to our newest WaterStar certified business, Newport Beach Marriott Bayview.

IRWD’s WaterStar program recognizes local businesses and restaurants for their sustainable practices and responsible water use that betters our community.

Newport Beach Marriott Bayview is an upscale hotel overlooking waterfront views of Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve. This upscale hotel is conveniently located within easy reach of Orange County's pristine beaches, UC Irvine, Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza and John Wayne Airport. The picturesque hotel combines beauty with responsibility, utilizing high-efficiency toilets and showerheads throughout its guestrooms and common areas. Its attention to sustainability doesn't stop indoors — Newport Beach Marriott Bayview also irrigates all outdoors areas with weather-based irrigation controllers to more responsibly allocate water use and throughtfully designed the hotel's surrounding landscape with water-efficient plants, saving water resources daily.

Thank you to Newport Beach Marriott Bayview for its commitment to efficient use of water and caring about our community now and for generations to come!

The Newport Beach Marriott Bayview is located at 500 Bayview Circle in Newport Beach. Enjoy a tranquil retreat offering the very best combination of tech-savvy yet cozy accommodations with gorgeous waterfront views. Learn more at marriott.com.

If you’d like to learn how your business or restaurant can get WaterStar certified, visit IRWD.com/waterstar.