Pipelines — January 2026

Kids! It’s poster contest time

Young Picassos, Kahlos and Van Goghs, get ready! IRWD’s annual Water Awareness Poster Contest is back, and this year’s theme—“Water Connects Us All”—invites young creatives in our service area to highlight the many ways water brings people, communities and nature together. Grab your favorite art supplies and illustrate what this theme means to you. Entries, open to students in grades K–12, will be judged in age categories on originality, artistic skill, and adherence to theme and contest rules.

Q: I was notified that you want me to use a new account number. Why is that? A: Many of our longtime customers are still using an outdated 11-digit account number that was phased out when IRWD switched to 10-digit numbers more than a decade ago. To prepare for any future upgrades to our internal digital systems, we are asking these customers to start using the 10-digit account number that has been listed on their water bills for many years. You can find it in the upper right corner of your most recent bill. Using this number now for your bill-pay service will ensure your payments can continue to be made long in the future. Got a question? Email info@IRWD.com .

IRWD finalists will earn special recognition and advance to county and regional competitions, where top winners have a chance to win an iPad from the Municipal Water District of Orange County and could be featured in Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s annual water awareness calendar.

Contest entries are due by Feb. 26. Visit IRWD.com/postercontest for contest guidelines.

Q: Juan, how often should I water my yard? A: Your plants’ water needs change throughout the year, so your watering schedule must change too. In general, you’ll want to irrigate more during the hot summer months when plants need extra moisture, and less during the colder, wetter months. Because every yard is unique, it’s best to follow a plan that adapts to the seasons. Go to IRWD.com/wateringguide for our detailed schedule.

If keeping up with the changes feels challenging, a Wi-Fi-enabled weather-based irrigation controller can automatically adjust to local conditions—and you can get a $255 rebate for it! With the right resources, your yard can stay vibrant and water-wise all year long.

Send your landscape questions to askjuan@IRWD.com or ask on Facebook, X or Instagram with #irwdcommunity .

California native corner Juan’s January plant: Howard McMinn manzanita Howard McMinn manzanita ( Arctostaphylos

Like Us Irvine Ranch Water District Follow Us @IRWDnews Watch Us youtube.com/ IrvineRanchWD Follow Us @IRWDnews

‘Howard McMinn’ ) is a native evergreen shrub prized for its resilience and beauty. With smooth red bark, glossy green leaves, and clusters of delicate pink to white urn-shaped flowers in winter and spring, it attracts pollinators and later produces small red

berries. Adaptable to gardens, it grows into a dense, rounded form reaching 6 to 10 feet in height, making it a striking, low-maintenance addition to California landscapes.

24-Hour customer service: 949-453-5300 Email: CustomerService@IRWD.com Address: 15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA 92618 Website: IRWD.com

Board of Directors: Dan Ferons (Div. 4), Steve LaMar (Div. 2), Doug Reinhart (Div. 3),

Peer Swan (Div. 5), John Withers (Div. 1) General manager: Paul A. Cook, PE

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