Proposed Rate Increases (Novato Service Area)

(Posted April 30, 2021) The District proposes rate increases for the Novato service area for fiscal year 2021-2022. If approved at the public hearing on June 15, 2021, the new rates will go into effect on July 1, 2021.

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

• Increased investment in water facilities. The District must continue to invest in facility upgrades and replacements with an approximate cost of $4 million per year. This will help address the need to properly maintain the District’s $138 million system of pipelines, pumps, reservoirs, treatment plants, valves, hydrants, laboratory, monitoring systems, and more.
• Advanced Meter Information (AMI) System. The District invested $5.8 million dollars to implement an AMI system. This system provides real time meter reads, reduces customer water loss, provides increased accuracy in bi-monthly billing and water use data, and allows customers to view and monitor their individual water use.
• 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 forecast that the costs will continue to increase by 6% every year.
• 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, every day and around the clock.

Millions of Dollars Saved

Cost control is a daily focus of North Marin Water District, which is one reason our rates are the lowest in Marin County and at the median for water agencies around the Bay Area Region. Here are some of the ways we have kept rates down.

• We decreased electrical costs by installing clean solar energy systems.
• We obtained over $10 million in grants for recycled water expansion.
• We saved $18 million by sharing the cost of a large aqueduct project with other public agencies.
• The recycled water (RW) system was implemented without additional staffing. RW reduces potable water use.
• We reduced the number of full-time employees from 58 a decade ago to 54 today.

More Information About Proposed Rate Changes

• Mailed Notice with Detailed Information on Proposed Rate Increases
• Low Income Rate Assistance Program
• Information on 2020 Novato & Recycled Water Rate Study

Got Questions? We Are Here to Help

If you have questions, we encourage you to contact our customer service staff at 415-897-4133 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.