Novato Service Area Drought Guide

On April 20, 2021, the North Marin Water District Board amended Ordinance 41 calling on customers to reduce water use by 20% compared to the same period last year through voluntary (Stage 1) measures until June 30 followed by mandatory (Stage 2) measures from July 1 through November 1. These percent reductions are based on the Novato Service area as a whole and are not an individual ration of your water use. Reductions can be achieved by eliminating water waste and non-essential usage, and by reducing water applied to landscaped areas, per water use prohibitions in Ordinance No. 41.

On October 19, 2021, the Board further amended Ordinance No. 41 to extend the mandatory Stage 2 past November 1, until such a time that the Board declares that Stage 2 conditions no longer exist.  As of March 2022, Stage 2 remains in place.  On June 7, 2022, the Board amended Ordinance NO. 41 to update the violations procedure for efficiency purposes and to increase and enact a single violation administrative fine of $1,000 for those customers who violate the pool filling prohibitions in the Ordinance.

A drought surcharge will be in effect during the Stage 2 period (July until such a time that the Board declares that Stage 2 conditions no longer exist).  For details on the drought surcharge please visit Regulation 54 – Water Rates.

Ordinance No. 41 remains in effect as of January 2023 and even though we are currently experiencing extensive rainfall, the water supply reservoirs are still extremely low and it is important to remain vigilant in conserving water and adhering to the Ordinance No. 41 water waste and non-essential water use prohibitions.  We carefully monitoring rainfall and water supply as winter continues and will likely review the need for continuation of Ordinance No. 41 in April 2023.

Novato Service Area (Ordinance No. 41)

Full Ordinance: Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance No. 41 Amended June 7, 2022 (PDF file)

Summary of Drought Prohibitions for Novato Service Area: 

• Gutter flooding (unreasonable irrigation overspray or irrigation run-off onto pavement, down a gutter, ditch or other drain.
• Failure to repair a controllable leak of water within a reasonable time.
• Washing privately-owned motor vehicles, trailers and boats except from a bucket and hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle for a quick rinse.
• Washing down exterior paved areas.
• Re-filling an existing pool drained after July 1, 2021 or initial filling of a new pool after July 1, 2021.

While we’re working to reduce overall water usage, residents do have options when it comes to garden watering. From and after July 1, 2021, watering of any landscaping is allowed when using hand held hose, drip irrigation system, or a container (e.g. a watering can) with the following exceptions:

• Overhead/above ground irrigation is allowed 3 days/week:
• Odd numbered addresses can irrigate on: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
• Even numbered addresses can irrigate on: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday • Overhead/ above ground irrigation is only allowed during the hours of 7pm to 9am.
• Customers using more than 300 gallons per day who wish to use overhead/above ground irrigation must maintain a 20% reduction in water use compared to 2020. Unsure if you meet the 20% reduction requirement or use less than 300 gallons per day? Check your WaterSmart Portal at https://nmwd.com/account/watersmart/

*This list serves only a summary of the water use prohibitions in Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance No. 41. For the full text of the prohibitions, please click on the Ordinance link above.

For all customer questions and comments regarding the 2021 drought water use prohibitions or to report a violation, please contact the District’s Water Conservation Hotline at (415) 761-8944 or email at waterconserve@nmwd.com.