Briefly in business

The Irvine Ranch Water District’s sewer system has been honored as

Collection System of the Year by a state trade group.

The California Water Environment Assn. anointed the district as the

winner in the large-sized system category. The district’s 636 miles of

pipeline fit within the 500-miles-and-above range.

It’s the second time the district has won the statewide award since

1996, when it was honored in the medium-sized category covering treaters

with 250 to 500 miles of pipeline.

The district received the award in late April for work in 2000.

The district channels waste from homes and businesses in Costa Mesa,

Newport Beach, Newport Coast and a handful of other communities to two

treatment plants -- Michelson Water Reclamation and Los Alisos Water

Reclamation.