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.
“Cash-For-Grass” Turf Replacement Incentive
North Marin Water District is offering residential customers a cash incentive for removing automatically irrigated lawn area and replacing with District approved, low water use planted landscapes.
The NMWD incentive will pay you up to $100 per 100 square feet ($1.00 per square foot) of lawn area. The incentive is limited to $1,000 for single family dwellings, $100 for townhouses or condominiums (common area), and $50 for apartments (common area). Cash for Grass Turf rebates are not available for installations of synthetic turf/artificial turf, pools, building extensions, patios, decks, or other unapproved landscape features.
NMWD approved plant lists:
All projects must be approved in advance and you must agree not to re-install irrigated turf in the project area. For more details about program requirements and how to participate please call NMWD’s Water Conservation Office at (415) 761-8944 or email [email protected] to get pre-qualified.
Lawn Be Gone
Lawn Be Gone is a “do-it-yourself” alternate option for lawn replacement projects. Eligibility is the same as Cash for Grass projects, but instead of a rebate check NMWD provides delivery of free materials for sheet-mulching the lawn area: compost, rolls of cardboard and wood chips.
Pre-qualification is required. For more details about program requirements and how to participate please call NMWD’s Water Conservation Office at (415) 761-8944 or email at [email protected].
Landscape Efficiency Rebate
Efficient landscapes can be achieved through a number of strategies including efficient irrigation devices and equipment, and soil maintenance. You may be eligible for rebates when you install District qualified water efficient landscape equipment including:
- – Drip irrigation systems
- – Water pressure-regulating devices
- – Check valves
- – Multi-stream rotating sprinkler nozzles (for lawn areas only)
- – Rain shut-off devices
- – Mulch
- – Soil conditioner/amendment
If approved, you will receive 75 percent of the actual cost of NMWD approved items, up to a maximum of $200 for residential customers (50% for mulch and soil amendments).
Confirm eligibility during your Water Smart Home Survey, or call NMWD at (415)761-8944 to pre-qualify for the rebate. We are currently working on updating the forms for 2024 and converting to online application. Feel free to use the 2023 form linked below for current 2024 participation.
Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebate
A weather-based irrigation controller, or Smart Controller, is an effective technology for reducing water usage outdoors. Unlike a standard automatic timer that turns water on at set intervals regardless of weather and plant needs, a Weather Based Controller uses weather data and site information such as plant type and sprinkler system output to automatically adjust watering times and frequency. This increases water use efficiency, reduces run-off, and improves the health of your landscape. A Weather Based Controller irrigation system can save 30% or more on your landscape water use, and is less expensive than you might think.
Current rebate amount is $30 per active station up to $1,500 per controller. Rebates cannot exceed the purchase price of the Smart Controller. Confirm eligibility during your Water Smart Home Survey or call NMWD at (415)761-8944 to arrange a pre-qualification. We are currently working on updating the forms for 2024 and converting to online application. Feel free to use the 2023 form linked below for current 2024 participation.
Rebate Links
Large Landscape Water Audit Program
NMWD has a landscape audit program for Novato non-residential irrigated, large landscape areas. Thorough on-site audits can be performed to make sure that water is being applied efficiently to help reduce the business cost of water, and may include a “catch can” test, flow tests, and irrigation inspections and scheduling. Audits may only be scheduled from April through July only. Please call NMWD at (415) 761-8944 to schedule an audit.
Rainwater / Greywater Rebate
NMWD rebates customers for installing systems that capture rainwater or divert greywater to offset potable water demand for landscape irrigation. Please call 415-761-8944 or email [email protected] to pre-qualify for the programs and obtain the application forms.
Pool Cover Rebate
North Marin Water District is offering a rebate up to $75 to customers for installing a new solar or safety pool cover with non-netter material only. The rebate amount cannot exceed the cost of the pool cover (excluding taxes). The rebate amount is calculated at 50% of the material cost of the cover only, up to $75. Limit one rebate per household. The rebate application must be submitted within 90 days of item purchase.
For more details about program requirements and how to participate please review:
Irrigation Efficiency
California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) station provides evapo-transpiration (ET) data (tracks how much water your landscape will use) in inches, either through plant transpiration or evaporation. This data allows you to manage your landscape irrigation by matching the watering times to reflect the current ET rates. To determine how many inches per hour your irrigation system can apply, call NMWD for a free water smart home survey. The Novato station has recently been relocated to better reflect the local area landscape water needs. The new station is titled Black Point #187.
High-Efficiency 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
North Marin Water District rebates up to $100 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 of HETs on the EPA WaterSense labeled High-Efficiency Toilet (HET) List.
- Installation of UHETs on the NMWD Approved UHET List January 2024.
Commercial CII toilet rebate eligibility includes:
- Owning a Commercial, Industrial or Institutional dwelling within the Novato or West Marin service area.
- Agreeing 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 Approved UHET List January 2024.
For more details on how to apply for these rebates and program requirements, please review the rebate applications. We are currently working on updating the forms for 2024 and converting to online application. Feel free to use the 2023 form linked below for current 2024 participation.
High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate
High-Efficiency (HE) clothes washing machines can save up to 50% of the water used and 65% of the energy used compared to conventional top-loading washing machines. We now offer a $75 rebate on qualifying Energy Star “Most Efficient” qualified washers.
Hot Water Recirculation System Rebate
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. We offer a $100 rebate to customers for self-activated or on-demand hot water recirculation systems. Please call 415-761-8944 or email [email protected] to pre-qualify and obtain the rebate application.
