(Updated 10/10/22) The North Marin Water District (District) has temporarily relocated offices while an upgraded Administration and Laboratory building is being constructed.  The temporary office is located at 100 Wood Hollow, Suite 300.  There is a drop-box to the left of the double doors for payments, rebates, plans, or other items to be dropped off.  We can be reached during normal business hours , Monday through Friday (8am to 5pm), at 415-897-4133.

The District’s Administration and Laboratory Upgrade project consists of a new water quality laboratory building addition and the renovation of the existing Administration building.  The existing building is over 56 years old and many recognized industry standards, including the American National Standards Institute, establish the useful life of a public building at 50 years. The current water quality laboratory hasn’t been substantially updated since the mid-1970’s. The project scope includes necessary ADA accessibility improvements to the building entrances and interior spaces as well as exterior path of travel for employees and visitors from the parking areas to the building entrances. The new building will have energy efficient heating and cooling systems and a fire alarm and fire sprinkler system, a critical safety feature that the current building lacks. The project will provide a new central location and technological improvements to the District “Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)” systems that will allow Operations staff to monitor the status water distribution system, including pump stations and tank levels.

As a cost control strategy, three alternate bid items are included in the project Construction Documents: 1) Landscaping and Irrigation; 2) Pavement improvements at the entrance and service driveways; and 3) an emergency back-up generator. The construction was awarded to D.L. Falk Construction of Hayward in the amount of $11,614,000 which was under the construction cost estimate of $12,866,000. The landscaping and irrigation alternate was also awarded in the amount of $96,000. District staff are separately working on the extension of the existing recycled water distribution system in Redwood Boulevard into Rush Creek Place, which would better facilitate new landscape irrigation. District staff are also coordinating with the City of Novato on a future paving project for Rush Creek Place; and the District has been approved to submit a grant application for the back-up generator.

(Posted June 2, 2022)

In a move designed to increase reliability and address salinity levels in the water supply, North Marin Water District has begun construction of the new Gallagher Well No. 2, on the Gallagher North Bend Ranch just outside Point Reyes Station. 

This new well will complement the existing Gallagher Well, and will increase the supply of high-quality groundwater during times that the district’s other two wells, located near downtown Point Reyes Station, are impacted by seasonal salt water intrusion.

This project coincides with conservation work undertaken on the Gallagher Ranch by the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT). MALT’s Stewardship Assistance Program addressed stream bank stabilization issues with measures that include construction of a log crib retaining wall, and the planting of willows and various native grasses along creek banks. This project will enhance water quality in Lagunitas Creek and protect North Marin Water District’s downstream Gallagher Well No 1. well from potential contamination.

With the first phase of drilling underway, the well is expected to be operational and providing water to customers by late summer. The project was awarded a grant under the California Department of Water Resources Small Community Drought Relief Program which helps offset the majority of the construction costs.

(Posted May 16, 2022)

The District proposes rate increases for the West Marin Water service area for fiscal year 2022-2023. If approved at the public hearing on June 28, 2022, the new rates will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

For more details about the public hearing and the proposed rate increases see the links below.

The key reasons that a 6% rate increase is needed are described below:

More Information About Proposed Rate Changes

(Posted May 9, 2022)  On March 4, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-6-22 (EO) regarding sanctions in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine.  The EO is located at https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3.4.22-Russia-Ukraine-Executive-Order.pdf.

This serves as a notice under the EO that as a contractor working under a state-funded project, compliance with the economic sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine is required, including with respect to, but not limited to, the federal executive orders identified in the EO and the sanctions identified on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website (https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/ukraine-russia-related-sanctions).  Failure to comply may result in the termination of contracts or grants, as applicable.

(Updated May 11, 2022)

The District proposes rate increases for the Novato service area for fiscal year 2022-2023. If approved at the public hearing on June 28, 2022, the new rates will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

A notification was sent out in this week’s mail to announce a proposed 6% rate increase to your water rates and invite customers to participate in the related public hearing originally scheduled for June 21, 2022.

The notification was intended to reach each customer individually but due to a printing error, you may have received a notice (or multiple notices) in this week’s mail addressed to other customers. This in no way compromised your account with North Marin Water District nor did it create any account issues with your associated property.

Due to this printing error, the virtual public hearing has been rescheduled to a later date on June 28, 2022 at 6 pm and you will be receiving an updated notification via USPS early next week. To attend the public hearing customers can participate via Zoom at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82191971947

Meeting ID: 821 9197 1947

Password: 466521

For more details about the public hearing and the proposed rate increases see the links below.

The key reasons that a 6% rate increase is needed are described below:

More Information About Proposed Rate Changes

(Updated April 28, 2022) North Marin Water District held a second New Water Supplies workshop on April 26, 2022 at 6:00pm

The District has been working with an engineering consultant with expertise in water supply alternatives, West Yost, to carry out a Local Water Supply Enhancement Study. The Study has considered numerous options to develop new local water sources, with the goal of ensuring that the North Marin Water District has a solid, resilient strategy for sustainable water supply, to minimize the impacts of future droughts.

These potential new water sources were presented to the Board and reviewed at a public workshop with customers on January 25, 2022. Ideas included expanding water recycling, adding desalination, capturing and storing stormwater, increasing Stafford Lake’s capacity, and storing water in underground basins in wet years and to save for use in dry years.

The workshop on April 26, 2022 provided a recap and summary of the potential new water sources, and consultants and staff presented the draft report with findings and recommendations in order to gain public feedback. The draft report is available here:  Local Water Supply Enhancement Study – Public Review Draft – April 2022 Compressed . Some of the supply options which are not necessarily feasible for local supply enhancement are possible through collaboration and partnership with other agencies at a regional level, which the workshop will explore.

If you have any comments or feedback on the Local Water Supply Enhancement Study, please send to Tony Williams (twilliams@nmwd.com) by May 6, 2022.