(Posted April 6, 2026) The American Water Works Association (AWWA) released an infrastructure and affordability report on March 26, 2026. The report, titled Beyond the Replacement Era, is timely in light of the District’s recently adopted Novato Water System Master Plan and the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. The key takeaways from the report include:

• Drinking water utilities not only face infrastructure replacement challenges but additional compounding cost drivers such as regulatory compliance, climate resilience and cybersecurity.
• The is a large gap in current funding levels for water infrastructure, especially via the federal government.
• The resulting burden on water customers will continue to increase and bills will likely double and disproportionately affect low-income households.

For the full report click HERE.

(Posted February 13, 2026) North Marin Water District (District) has updated the Novato Water System Master Plan (Master Plan) to guide investment decisions of both near- and long-term system improvements in the Novato Service Area. The original Master Plan was established in 2002 and  three subsequent updates have occurred, the most recent one in 2018. This Master Plan update expands on previous versions and is intended to be a dynamic document that can be updated as new information, data, and practices become available. The Master Plan identifies necessary system improvements for its current operation, expands asset management methodologies, updates future water demand forecasts based on current State Housing Mandates, and integrates risk and resilience practices to improve the overall reliability of the Novato Water system. To view the current final plan click HERE.

(Updated April 1, 2026) The Marin Municipal Water District (Marin Water), the water provider for central and southern Marin, is currently working on the preliminary design and environmental review of pipeline and related facilities that would move excess winter Russian River flows to storage reservoirs in Marin, providing critical drought resiliency.

If you would like further information on Marin Water’s ARC Project, please see their project webpage: www.marinwater.org/ARCproject

 

(Posted February 12, 2026)  The North Marin Water District (District) is currently working on the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and updating the Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). The UWMP integrates land use, water needs and supply, and demand management measures to document the District’s ability to provide a reliable supply of water to its customers projecting 25 years ahead. The associated WSCP considers dry-year water supply planning, including strategies to address water supply shortage conditions and emergencies proactively. A draft should be available in Spring of 2026 and Board approval through a public hearing is expected in June 2026.

If you would like further information or would like to provide input during the preparation of the District’s 2025 UWMP and WSCP, please contact the District at (415) 897-4133 or info@nmwd.com.

(Posted January 6, 2026) NMWD will begin its annual water main flushing program next week in the Zone 3 areas. This is a standard practice to ensure there is no degradation in water quality and to maintain an adequate chlorine residual (disinfectant) which helps prevent any bacterial growth in the pipelines. Customers may temporarily experience low water pressure or a slight, but harmless color in their water when the flushing is conducted in their neighborhood. NMWD crews have developed specific routes and use of isolation valves to maximize results using the least amount of water possible. Flushing is performed in the winter months when there is sufficient water supply for the task. All NMWD fire hydrants are inspected and tested as part of ongoing distribution maintenance. In addition, our annual water quality flushing program allows a more in-depth performance test on select hydrants and areas.

For more information on water quality visit https://nmwd.com/your-water/water-quality/. 

(Posted October 24, 2025) North Marin Water District is proud to share our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan recently approved by the Board.

To build this plan, we combined community input with the on-the-ground experience of our operators, construction crews, engineers, chemists, and customer service teams, and the policy guidance of our Board. At its core, the plan keeps us focused on the fundamentals. Our Water Supply – Stafford Dam and Lake, groundwater wells, and the Russian River through our long-standing relationship with Sonoma Water. Our system – storage tanks, pump stations, pipelines, hydrants, and treatment facilities.

The plan is organized around clear Goals, each supported by practical Actions. Each action in the plan has a target date, so progress is visible and trackable. Some actions are near-term that improve day-to-day administration and operations; others are multi-year initiatives or large capital projects that will prepare our system for natural hazards as well as the next generation.

Click here for an electronic version of the plan: NMWD Strategic Plan 2025-2030