(Updated June 17, 2022) NMWD’s Residential Recycled Water Pick-Up Program is back for the 2022 drought. This program provides clean, safe, tertiary-treated recycled water to residential customers to pick up at a select location and time to be used for hand-watering of outdoor plants. There is an annual application fee of $75 (good through the end of the season in 2022). For more information see the Residential Recycled Water Fill Station section on the Recycled Water Page here.
Effective 6/17/2022, the Residential Recycled Water Pick-Up Program is temporarily closed until further notice. Check back here for updates.
(Posted March 8, 2022) The US Environmental Protection Society’s annual Fix-A-Leak Week is March 14-20, and we’ve worked with our partners at Sonoma Marin Water Saving Partnership to compile a list of quick and easy steps you can take to save water in your household.
There are several ways to check whether you have a leak, and most household leaks are simple to fix. Things such as rundown toilet flappers (the part that seals the opening between the tank and the toilet bowl), leaky faucets, and dripping showerheads all are easy to correct and can save you money on your utility bill and help save water during the drought.
Did you know that nearly 1 trillion gallons of water could be saved each year in U.S. homes if everyone fixed their water leaks? Check out some of our helpful tips and resources to get you started.
- Check your water bills
- Fix your faucets
- Track your water usage online
- Test your toilets
- Review our 10-minute fix-a-leak checklist Detect and Chase Down Leaks Checklist or Detect and Chase Down Leaks Checklist – Spanish
For more resources on dealing with leaks, check out the EPA’s Fix-A-Leak website. If you are replacing household fixtures or appliances, look out for the ‘WaterSense’ label when purchasing new products. A WaterSense labeled product is proven to have better performance levels as well as use at least 20 percent less water. Thank you for doing your part to fix things up and conserve water during Fix-A-Leak Week!
(Updated January 4, 2023) Although we are receiving beneficial rainfall, reservoirs are still well below average for now, so please be diligent and continue to conserve water wherever possible. Water Conservation Ordinances remain in place for both the Novato and West Marin Service areas for 2022 and at least through winter 2023. For the most up to date information for both service areas click here: https://nmwd.com/save-water/drought/
We are working to develop new water sources to ensure reliable long-term water supplies for our customers and to minimize the impacts of future droughts. The Local Water Supply Enhancement Study explores numerous local water supply options, including expanding water recycling, adding desalination, capturing and storing stormwater, increasing Stafford Lake’s capacity, and storing water in underground basins in wet years and saving it for dry years. A community workshop to learn about these potential new water supply solutions was held on January 25, 2022 (virtual from 6pm to 7:30pm). For more information from the workshop click Here.
(Posted December 15, 2021) This winter North Marin Water District will replenish water supplies held at Stafford Lake with water imported from the Russian River. This move is a central element of efforts designed to meet projected 2022 water demands from North Marin residents and businesses.
This action follows a similar strategy to one successfully executed in 2021, to increase local water supply during severe drought conditions. Water purchased and imported from the Russian River refilled Stafford Lake from about one-quarter to over one-half capacity, averting the possibility that Stafford Lake would have gone dry during summer, when water demand is at its highest.
In 2021, we invested over $400,000 to raise lake levels. This year we may commit to similar spending levels, depending on actual winter rainfall. While North Marin experienced substantial rainfall in October 2021, due to ongoing drought conditions, the parched ground soaked it up. As a result, very little additional water reached Stafford Lake.
North Marin Water District will continue to carefully monitor rainfall in the coming months and purchase more or less water as needed. Our goal is to provide greater assurances of drought protection in the coming year. Stafford Lake can hold about 4,300 acre-feet of water. One acre-foot is about 325,000 gallons, the amount roughly three families use in a year. As of December 1, 2021, the lake held about 1,600 acre-feet of water (37% capacity).
While we are focused on taking significant steps to continue to meet water demand from North Marin residents and businesses, including this initiative, we urge North Marin Water District consumers to educate themselves on ways in which they can conserve water supplies.
For more information on the steps we are taking, please visit the New Water Supplies page. For conversation tips and rebates, please visit the Save Water section of our website.
(Posted December 10, 2021) The National Weather Service for the San Francisco Bay Area issued a freeze warning for the North Bay interior valleys, which includes the cities of Santa Rosa, South Santa Rosa, Napa, San Rafael, Petaluma, Novato, and Rohnert Park. The freeze warning goes into effect Friday (12/10/21) night at midnight and continues overnight until 8 a.m. Saturday (12/11/21). During this time, residents can expect a few to several hours of sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 degrees. These freezing conditions can damage and break unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Now is the time to protect your outdoor water pipes from winter freeze. Wrap exposed pipe with insulation and avoid inconvenient and costly breaks. Measure the pipe diameter and determine the total length of insulation needed, to purchase the correct size and quantity. Copper wire or plastic wire ties work best to keep the insulation in place. You will be able to get all the supplies you may need at your local hardware store.