(Updated June 14, 2023)
The District proposes rate increases for the Novato service area for fiscal year 2023-2024 (FY 23/24). If approved at the public hearing on June 20, 2023, the new rates will go into effect on July 1, 2023.
The public hearing will take place at 100 Wood Hollow Drive in Novato at 4:00 pm. For more details about the public hearing and the proposed rate increases see the links below. Also, look for a detailed flyer in the mail.
The key reasons that a 9.5% rate increase for Novato Water and a 5.3% rate increase for Recycled Water is needed are described below:
- Rising costs to purchase imported water. The District typically imports 75% of its water from Sonoma County Water Agency. The cost of purchasing imported water accounts for 30% of the budget and the water supplier has increased its rates of purchased water by 12.51% in FY 23/24.
- Increased investment in water facilities. The District must continue to invest in facility upgrades and replacements, including water supply enhancement projects, with an approximate cost of $4 million per year. These investments benefit the system’s fire protection, water supply, and aging infrastructure and are essential to properly maintain the District’s$132 million system of pipelines, pumps, Stafford Dam, treatment plants, valves, hydrants, laboratory, monitoring systems, buildings, and more.
- Impact of inflation on all costs. The proposed revenue increase is designed to meet all the costs of providing water service. This includes purchasing, treating, and delivering safe, high-quality, reliable water to your home or business without fail.
Rate comparison
Our proposed rate increase is the lowest in Marin County and at the median for water agencies around the Bay Area region.
More Information About Proposed Rate Changes
- Mailed Notice with Detailed Information on Proposed Rate Increases
- Novato Water & Recycled Water 5-Year Financial Plan FY 23/24
- Low Income Rate Assistance Program
- https://csd.ca.gov/waterbill
(Updated June 14, 2023)
The District proposes rate increases for the West Marin Water service area for fiscal year 2023-2024. If approved at the public hearing on June 20, 2023, the new rates will go into effect on July 1, 2023.
The public hearing will take place at 100 Wood Hollow Drive in Novato at 4:00 pm. 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:
- Continued investment in water facilities. The District must continue to make investments in facility upgrades and replacements that will benefit the West Marin Water System’s fire protection, water supply, and aging infrastructure. This will help to properly maintain the service area’s treatment plant, 26 miles of pipeline, 7 pump stations, 13 tanks, 4 wells, 172 hydrants, monitoring systems, and more.
- Impact of inflation on all costs. The proposed revenue increase is designed to meet all the costs of providing water service. This includes purchasing, treating, and delivering safe, high-quality, reliable water to your home or business without fail.
More Information About Proposed Rate Changes
- Mailed Notice with Detailed Information on Proposed Rate Increases
- 2021 West Marin Water Rate Study
- Low Income Rate Assistance Program
(Posted May 2, 2023) This year, rainfall has been well above average and, all reservoirs supplying Novato are at capacity. Governor Newsome has declared an end to the State-wide drought provisions. Novato water customers did a great job conserving during the three-year drought period by continually conserving an average of 20%.
On April 4, 2023, the District Board rescinded Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance No. 41. This action immediately eliminated non-essential water use restrictions and ended the drought surcharge. However, we are reminding customers that common-sense water waste prohibitions remain in place permanently. We encourage you to participate in the many programs the District offers to help you use water more efficiently.
Even though this drought period has ended, drought conditions could return in the future. We continue aggressively pursuing efforts to enhance our water supplies locally and regionally.
For more post drought information click here.
(Posted April 18, 2023) Backflow prevention assembly testing is being performed between April 1 and September 1 on residential and commercial services in the North Marin Water District. The testing is being performed by third party certified backflow testers contracted by the District. These contractors can show a District ID upon request. For any questions regarding the District backflow prevention program, please contact the backflow department at 415-761-8947 or backflow@nmwd.com.
(Posted April 13, 2023) Thank you to our Novato customers who responded to our request to temporarily avoid using irrigation or sprinklers in the wake of the recent Redwood Blvd landslide emergency. Our testing and assessments appear to show that the landslide along Redwood Blvd. near Olompali State Park has not impacted the North Marin Aqueduct. Although additional assessments are planned, we are confident that we can resume partial operation of the aqueduct to accommodate demands. Customer water use for irrigation and sprinklers can resume as normal on Friday, April 14th. It is still an active landslide and conditions could change. In the event that we need to extend the prohibition on irrigation and sprinkler use, we will post a news story to that effect.
(Posted April 7, 2023) North Marin Water District is requesting that all residents and businesses keep outdoor irrigation and sprinklers shut off until Friday, April 14.
A section of the North Marin Aqueduct pipeline was recently isolated and closed due to the landslide on Redwood Blvd, near Olompali State Park. North Marin Water District is working closely with partners to conduct an exhaustive assessment of the section of pipeline near the landslide to be certain that no damage has occurred.
Currently, Novato area domestic water demands are being met by Stafford Lake Treatment Plant, but as warmer weather approaches the District is concerned that outdoor irrigation will put a strain on the system.
We are therefore asking all customers to keep irrigation and sprinkler systems shut off until the assessment is completed, which is expected to be Friday April 14, 2023. Water quality has not been affected in any way by the temporary pipeline closure.
More information on the landslide near the North Marin Aqueduct is available here.