Indoors
Water
Conservation
Conserving water doesn’t mean you have to change your entire lifestyle. By being mindful of what you do around the house, you can save both water and money. The first step towards conserving water is to assess the efficiency of your water usage by taking a free Water Smart Home Survey and learning about money-saving rebates for high-efficiency fixtures and household appliances.
Water Smart Home Survey
North Marin Water District offers customers a free Water Smart Home Survey. This free service is conducted by our friendly, knowledgeable survey technicians and includes both indoor and outdoor water efficiency checks. As part of this program, you will learn how to use water more efficiently and avoid water waste as well as receive money-saving rebates and incentive information to help meet your water efficiency goals. You’ll also be offered free low-flow showerheads and aerators if needed to achieve maximum water efficiency.
Indoors, we will inspect:
- Faucets
- Showerheads
- Toilets
- Dishwashers
- Clothes washers
- Other water-using devices in the home
For your convenience, appointments can be scheduled at a time that works for you. Sign up for a Water Smart Home Survey here *Due to concerns regarding COVID-19, the District is not making in-person appointments at this time however we can assist you over the phone with a water use review. We will retain your information and contact you at such a time when the in-person appointments resume.
Get a GreenHouse Call assessment to save money on energy and water bills.
Rising Sun Energy Center for Opportunity’s flagship program the California Youth Energy Services (CYES) in collaboration with Marin County Energy Watch offers any resident of Marin County a FREE Green House Calls energy assessment. Learn more.
NMWD Water Conservation Rebates
North Marin Water District is working hard to preserve and protect our most essential resource – water! Save money and water with these rebates.
Residential Clothes Washer Rebate
High-efficiency (HE) washing machines can save up to 50% of the water used and 65% of the energy used compared to conventional top-loading washing machines.
NMWD offers a $100 rebate (recently increased during this current drought period) to customers when they purchase qualifying high-efficiency (HE) clothes washing machines. Applications are available by clicking the link below. Only Energy Star “Most Efficient” qualified washers are eligible for a rebate.
HET Toilet Rebate
A change to high-efficiency toilets (HET) can reduce toilet water use by over 50% and indoor water use by an average of 16%. This translates into a savings of 15,000 to 20,000 gallons per year for a family of four.
Program Requirements
NMWD rebates up to $125 per High-Efficiency Toilet (HET) and up to $200 per Ultra High-Efficiency Toilet (UHET) when customers change their non-water conserving toilets (Pre 1993). These rebate amounts were recently increased during this drought period for eligible toilet purchases.
Residential toilet rebate eligibility includes:
- Owning a dwelling within the Novato or West Marin service area constructed prior to 1992.
- Calling in for a pre-installation qualification.
- Installation HETs on the EPA WaterSense labeled High-Efficiency Toilet (HET) List or toilets eligible to be sold in the state of California.
- Installation UHETs on the NMWD Qualified UHET List 2022.
Commercial CII toilet rebate eligibility includes:
- Own a Commercial, Industrial, Institutional dwelling within the Novato or West Marin service area.
- Agree to a brief pre-installation inspection or pre-qualification phone call.
- HETs eligible for rebate must be on the EPA WaterSense Labeled High Efficiency Toilet List.
- UHETs eligible for rebate must be on the NMWD Qualified UHET List 2022.
For more details on how to apply for these rebates and program requirements, please review the rebate applications.
Applications for toilet rebate:
- 2022 HET Rebate Form – Residential
- 2022 UHET Rebate Form – Residential
- HET Rebate Form – Commercial
- UHET Rebate Form – Commercial
Hot Water Recirculation Rebate
North Marin Water District is offering a $100 rebate to customers for self-activated or on-demand hot water recirculation systems only. Timer-controlled and thermostat-controlled systems are not rebated.
A hot water recirculation system is a small water pump that works in conjunction with your hot water heater to more quickly provide hot water to plumbing fixtures (faucets) most distant from the hot water heater. Unheated water left in the plumbing line is recirculated back to the hot water heater as opposed to running down the drain, thereby saving water.
Free Water-Conserving Fixtures Available
NMWD offers free, high-quality shower heads, faucet aerators, and hose nozzles. Customers can pick up free shower heads and faucet aerators at the District office (Temporarily Closed). Fixtures may also be available by appointment.
Retrofit on Resale Program
North Marin Water District Water Conservation Regulation No. 15 m. requires that any existing structure built before January 1, 1992, located in NMWD’s Novato Service Area, and receives water service from NMWD, and that changes ownership on or after January 1, 2003, be certified as containing water-conserving plumbing fixtures that meet the following standards:
| Ultra-low Flush Toilets | Rated at 1.6 gallons per flush (max.) |
| Urinals (if present) | Rated at 1 gallons per flush (max.) |
| Shower Heads | Rated at 2 gallons per minute (max.) |
| Lavatory Faucets | Rated at 1.5 gallons per minute (max.) |
Faucet aerators may be installed if they reduce the faucet flow rate to a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute. Easily-removed flow restrictors installed in shower heads are not acceptable. The entire shower head must be replaced with one that is flow-rated at 2 gallons of water per minute or less.
Water Conservation Certificate Form and Guidelines
The property owner can certify his/her own building for compliance with a completed Water Conservation Certificate form. Completed Water Conservation Certificates can be scanned and emailed to waterconserve@nmwd.com. This application is not a replacement for permits required by other government agencies.
Retrofit on Resale Certificate (PDF)
The Waterline Newsletter
Two times a year – in the spring and fall – The Waterline newsletter is mailed to all customers in Novato. The letter explains current water supply conditions on the Russian River and at Stafford Lake, our local source. In addition, water conservation other North Marin Water District news is included. West Marin customers receive a customized version of The Waterline newsletter in spring.
