ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Flood of Generosity for Water Research

Public officials often hear at meetings from regulars--interested citizens and gadflies who turn out to follow business month in and month out. But recently three water agencies heard from one familiar speaker who offered an unexpected invitation to start planning for forward-looking water conservation projects.

Joan Irvine Smith, the heiress who has been locked in a long legal battle with the Irvine Co. over the value of her share of the company, recently has been thinking aloud about ways to use part of the $252.6 million she expects to receive from a court settlement. She has asked the Municipal Water District of Orange County, which supplies water to 28 county water agencies, the Irvine Ranch Water District and the Orange County Water District to come up with wish lists. Moreover, UC Irvine, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is in line for a number of marvelous birthday presents from Smith. Among them is a chair within the School of Engineering that the school is hoping can serve as a national water institute to study issues related to water treatment and reclamation.

It’s not clear exactly how much money the university and these water agencies will be in line to receive, but the prospect of substantial new dollars for research and technology in water management clearly is a major coup for Orange County and Southern California. Stan Sprague, general manager of the MWDOC, already is hoping that new methods can be found of filtering ocean water that has invaded the underground supply, and of researching methods of disposing of salt from desalination plants. And he is enthused that such research can serve as a model for regional water conservation projects.

The possibility being explored of tying in the university with the work done at the water districts is a significant idea. According to Peer A. Swan, Irvine Ranch Water District board president, part of Smith’s vision is to back up desalination projects and toxic-waste management programs with the research capability of the nearby university.

UCI and the water districts thus have a wonderful opportunity to work together and advance the region’s knowledge of water treatment. This windfall could not come at a better time for Southern California. As drought continues, and as water supplies fail to keep pace with growth, the region is bracing for entirely new demands on planning for its future.