Outdoors

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. From the survey, you will learn how to keep track of your water usage, 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.

• Learn how to read your water meter to keep track of water usage.
• Learn how to log on to the NMWD’s online water smart portal to view your water use.
• Receive a customized irrigation schedule that is designed to efficiently irrigate your landscape.
• Receive recommended rebates and incentives.

Outdoors, our technicians will inspect:

• Flows and leaks
• Sprinklers and irrigation systems
• Hoses
• Faucets
• Landscaping
• Water meter

For your convenience, appointments can be scheduled at a time that works for you. Sign up for a Water Smart Home Survey here. (Note: During the COVID-19 period, in-person Water Smart Home Surveys were not available however in 2022, we have resumed the surveys on a limited basis.  Staff may still be able to virtually assist you).

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 $800 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:

NMWD Qualified Plant List
SMSWP Plant List

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 review the Cash for Grass Rebate Application 2022 or call NMWD’s Water Conservation Office at (415) 761-8944 to schedule a brief pre-inspection.

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 site visit and approval of replacement planting plan are required. For more details about program requirements and how to participate please review the Lawn be Gone Application or call NMWD’s Water Conservation Office at (415) 761-8944.

Water Smart Landscape 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 arrange a pre-qualification inspection.
Landscape Rebate Form 2022

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 $100 or $30 per active station up to $1,200 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.

Rebate Links:
Smart Controller Rebate Application Form
Smart Irrigation Controller List

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 / Graywater Rebate

NMWD rebates customers for installing systems that capture rainwater or divert graywater to offset potable water demand for landscape irrigation.

Rebate Links:
Rainwater Catchment Rebate Form

Greywater Rebate Form

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:

Pool Cover Information and Rebate Form 2022

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.