IRWD Wins Collection System of the Year Award by Irvine Ranch Water District Apr 7, 2026 Member Submitted News Mostly underground and out of sight, IRWD’s sewer system doesn’t get much notice in the community — but in industry circles, it’s gold. The California Water Environment Association recently presented IRWD with its first-place Gold Award as the Collection System of the Year for the Santa Ana River Basin Section. The District took second place for its size at the state level. The Gold Award was based on the District’s outstanding record of safety, regulatory compliance, preventive maintenance, training and data management. Key accomplishments contributing to the award included: No accidents or injuries reported in the past year Exceptional regulatory compliance An impressive root, vermin and odor control program A data-driven asset management system and CCTV inspection program A corrective maintenance program supported by continual updates to IRWD’s sewer master plan Real-time odor control using remote telemetry Extensive training for employees “This award acknowledges the hard work of our team, and we are very honored to receive it,” said Collection Systems Manager William Kleinau. “It takes a lot of coordination to maintain our 1,536 miles of sewer pipeline, 18 lift stations and other infrastructure needed to serve a daytime population of more than 600,000 people.” Most people don’t think about sewers when flushing their toilet or running the dishwasher. But the people who keep these systems flowing are unsung heroes: maintaining critical infrastructure that protects public health and the environment.
