West Marin Service Area Drought Guide

The North Marin Water District Board of Directors adopted Amended Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance No. 39 for the West Marin Service Area in 2020 and 2021 in response to continued dry year conditions on Lagunitas Creek and pursuant to State Water Resources Control Board Order 95-17 for water right permits issued to North Marin Water District.  In 2022, rainfall as measured at Marin Municipal’s Kent Lake gage is 38.8 inches (as of February 1, 2022), which exceeds the 28-inch minimum threshold required under Water Board Water Right Order 95-17 to declare a “normal” water year within the West Marin Service Area.  However, statewide drought conditions persist and the proclamations issued by Governor Newsom requesting 15% voluntary water use reductions and directing to local water suppliers to execute their Water Shortage Contingency Plans at a level appropriate to local conditions while taking into account the possibility of a third dry year remain in place.   Additionally, the State Water Board adopted Resolution 2022-002, thereby enacting Section 995 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations (Title 32 CCR Section 995) which prohibits certain wasteful water uses for a period of one year.

Therefore, Ordinance No. 39, as amended February 2, 2022, provides for the continued imposition of water waste restrictions and calls for 15% voluntary conservation under Stage 1 of the West Marin Water Shortage Contingency Plan, thereby also ending the drought surcharge.  As amended in 2021, Ordinance No. 39 also authorizes the Board of Directors to make subsequent modifications to the Ordinance by resolution, should additional measures be needed in 2022, and authorizes the imposition of administrative fines and penalties for violations of the Ordinance.   The Amended Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance NO. 39 can be viewed below along with a summary sheet of water waste prohibitions.

Full Ordinance: Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance No. 39 Amended February 1, 2022 (PDF File) 

Summary of Water Waste Prohibitions for the West Marin Service Area:

Water Waste Prohibitions Effective February 1, 2022:

• Permitting water to escape down a gutter, ditch or other surface drain.
• Irrigation which allows excessive runoff or unreasonable overspray.
• Failure to repair a controllable leak of water within a reasonable time.
• Using water for non-recycling decorative fountains or single-pass cooling systems.
• Washing down exterior hard surface areas.
• Washing cars, boats, trailers or other vehicles and machinery directly with a hose not equipped with a shutoff nozzle
• Potable water on ornamental turf in public street medians
• Drinking water other than on request in eating or dining establishments
• Water for the daily laundering of towels and linens in hotels and motels without offering guests the option of choosing not to have daily laundering.

*This list serves only a summary of the water waste prohibitions in Ordinance No. 39. For the full text of the prohibitions, please click on the Ordinance link above.

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