(Posted on November 22, 2022) The District is proposing changes to the connection fees for new development and expanded service in the Novato, Recycled Water and West Marin Service Areas. If approved by the Board at the Public hearing, the changes will be incorporated in District Regulation 1 effective soon after the hearing. Customers and interested parties are welcome and encouraged to attend the public hearing on December 6, 2022.

District Regulation 1 establishes the Facility Reserve Charge (FRC) costs for the Novato Service Area and the West Marin Service Area. The FRC cost varies depending on the type of development or planned water use, such as the various types of residential structures in addition to a single-family home (townhouses, apartments, etc.), assessor dwelling units (ADUs) as well as commercial development. Regulation 1 is periodically reviewed and updated and the most recent updates specific to FRCs were conducted in 2008 for the Novato Service Area and in 2014 for the West Marin Service Area.

The current proposed changes actually have a connection fee reduction for Accessory Dwelling Units as a result of the study, while the other structure type fees remain at similar levels or have slight increases.  

For more information about the proposed changes to connection fees:

2022 NMWD Facility Reserve Charge Study

2022 NMWD Facility Reserve Charge Study PowerPoint Presentation

 

(Updated December 8, 2022) A vacancy currently exists on the Board of Directors of North Marin Water District due to the death of Director James Grossi. The Board will appoint a successor who will serve until the next general election of the District scheduled for November 2024. Any registered voter residing within Division 1 of the District and interested in the post is invited to contact the District Secretary at (415) 897-4133. The area of the District generally includes the greater Novato area and the Point Reyes Station, Olema, Bear Valley, lnverness Park, Paradise Ranch Estates and Oceana Marin areas of West Marin.  Please refer to the interactive map here to determine if you reside within Division 1 (Zoom in on the map for street level detail).

Applicants were requested to submit a letter of interest by December 2,2022 and describe their experience, educational background and previous public service and outline why they are interested in serving on the Board of Directors. Thank you to those who submitted their letter of interest. The Board of Directors will review the letters of interest and interview applicants at an open public meeting tentatively scheduled for December 13, 2022. The meeting will be held at the District headquarters located at 100 Wood Hollow Drive, Novato, California and the Board will make an appointment to fill the vacancy at this meeting.

(Posted October 28, 2022) Earlier this year, the District conducted a Local Water Supply Enhancement Study to evaluate water supply alternatives for the Novato area. The goal is to ensure the District has a resilient strategy for sustainable water supply to minimize the impact of future droughts. 

In addition to working with an engineering consultant with expertise in water supply alternatives, North Marin Water District held two community workshops in January and April of this year. At the April workshop, a draft report was presented with findings and recommendations in order to gain public feedback.

North Marin Water District staff presented the final Local Water Supply Enhancement Study to the Board of Directors, and it was accepted at the Board Meeting on July 19th, 2022. The Study identifies three local alternatives that scored high using the established evaluation criteria, including overall cost and weighted qualitative scoring. 

Beginning this new fiscal year, we will be moving forward with two of the three initiatives:

• Improve Stafford Treatment Plant Efficiency (including water recapture, pretreatment, and raw water intake modifications)
• Increase Stafford Lake Storage Capacity – Spillway Notch Slide Gate

A third alternative, diverting captured stormwater into Stafford Lake, requires significant collaboration with other stakeholders and so will take more time to formulate. The Study concluded that other alternatives are not feasible at the local level but could be pursued regionally and through partnership with other agencies. Many of these alternatives such as groundwater sources, aquifer storage and recovery, and desalination were also identified in Sonoma Water’s Drought Resiliency Analysis.

As well as these promising solutions identified by the Local Water Supply Enhancement Study, North Marin Water District continues to prioritize strategies that will secure water supplies for our customers in the years ahead.

For more information, visit https://nmwd.com/save-water/new-water-supplies/

Photo of the Spillway at Stafford Lake.

Posted 10/10/2022 2:58pm.  Stay tuned for more information. As of now we have no estimate of when power will be restored.

Updated 10/11/22: As of this morning, the power has been restored.

(Posted September 14, 2022)

An unprecedented heat wave significantly impacted California over Labor Day weekend. With the Governor of California declaring a state of emergency, like many residents and organizations in Marin, North Marin Water District responded to calls for voluntary energy conservation to help reduce power demands within California while prioritizing public health and safety.

For the week beginning 9/2, we temporarily shut down all of our pumping activities from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m with the exception of the hydropneumatic zones, monitored filter maintenance and water heater adjustments. We will monitor the situation and continue to adjust our pumping activities to accommodate energy conservation priorities. In addition, we continue to utilize the solar system at Stafford Lake, which reduces our overall dependency on the electrical grid.

• Adjust Your Thermostat
  • During peak hours or when you’re not home, remember to set your thermostat at 78° (degrees) or higher. Setting your air conditioner 5 degrees higher can save up to 20 percent on cooling costs.
  • Pre-cool your home by running air conditioning at 72 degrees in the early part of the day (when it is more efficient) then turn your system to 78 degrees or higher during the hottest part of the day when demand is the highest.
  • Use smart or programmable features to help maintain energy savings when you’re not home.
• Close Windows and Doors
  • Keep windows and doors closed to prevent the loss of cooled or heated air.
  • On summer nights, open windows to let cooler air in when safe. In the morning before the day starts to heat up, close windows and blinds to keep warm air out. c. Tilt blinds up and close drapes and shades on windows that receive direct sunlight.
• Smart Energy Use
  • Turn off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with LEDs instead of overhead lights.
  • Enable “power management” on all computers and turn off when not in use.
  • Unplug phone charges, power strips (those without a switch) and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator.
• Access and Functional Needs
  • Check in on neighbors, friends and family who may be at risk.
  • Charge medical devices in off hours and have a back up plan for if the power goes out.
  • In addition to traditional community support channels, individuals with access and functional needs should reach out to local government for assistance.
  • Contact local utilities companies if you are dependent on power for assistive devices.
• Major Appliance Use
  • Postpone using major appliances like the oven, dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer until cooler times of the day to avoid heating up your home.
  • Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full. Wait until after 10 p.m. to use these and other major appliances.
  • When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
• Clean or Replace Your Filters
• • A dirty filter forces your air conditioner and furnace to work harder, wasting money, using more energy or natural gas.
• Adjust Your Water Heater
  • Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees or the “normal” setting. Water heating accounts for about 13 percent of home energy costs.
• Conservation Programs
  • Consider participating in your utility’s demand response program. These voluntary programs are short, temporary measures to reduce energy consumption when power supplies are critically low, and a Flex Alert has been issued. Contact your local electric utility to learn about your utility’s program and incentives they may offer to participate.

For more information on state-wide Flex Alerts and power conservation, visit https://energyupgradeca.org/flex-alert

(Updated August 25, 2022) Thanks to everyone who came out to the Pop-Up Event this past Saturday.   We had a good response and hope to do it again sometime in the future.

We are having a Drought Tool Kit Pop-Up event on August 20, 2022 at Pini Ace Hardware from 10am to 2pm (out in front).  Here are the details:

Saturday, August 20, 2022
From 10am-2pm
Pini Ace Hardware 1535 S Novato Blvd., Suite A

Make sure to pop by and get your FREE Drought Tool Kit which may include:

• Bucket
• Showerhead
• Sink aerator
• Shower timer
• Hose nozzle
• Toilet leak detection tablets

For more information, please contact the District’s Water Conservation Hotline at (415) 761-8944 or email at waterconserve@nmwd.com.