Novato Waterline Fall 2025

In This Newsletter

Message From Tony Williams, General Manager
Low-Income Rate Assistance (LIRA) Program
Administration Headquarters and Water Quality Laboratory
The Future of PG&E’s Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project (PVP)
Visit our New Low Water-Use Demonstration Garden
New State Regulations on “Cross-Connection” and “Backflow” Prevention
Cash for Grass
Saving for a Rainy Day
Investing in Your Water System
Water Smart Savings Program

Message From Tony Williams, General Manager

Water Supply

Securing reliable and sustainable water supplies has been a priority for the North Marin Water District (District) since its founding in 1948. Soon after the District finished completion of the Stafford Dam in 1951, and nearly every decade since, the District has championed and delivered new projects to meet changing customer needs.

1960s: We constructed an aqueduct pipeline to convey Russian River water to the Novato area, entering into a long-term water supply contract with Sonoma Water, which provides about 75% of Novato’s water needs.

1970s to today: Our industry-leading conservation programs have helped build a permanent culture of mindful water use in Novato. These include implementing landscape watering efficiency standards, developing the first “Cash for Grass” turf replacement program and offering our customers numerous rebates.

2010s: We massively expanded the recycled water system, which now delivers over 250 million gallons of recycled wastewater a year to large landscape irrigation customers and drive-through car washes. Every gallon of recycled water saves a gallon of valuable drinking water for our potable water customers.

2019: We installed advanced meters, allowing customers to track water use in real-time, promoting awareness and providing real time data that allows us to alert customers to unusually high water use, such as from a sudden leak.

2022: We completed a comprehensive Local Water Supply Enhancement Study (LWSES) in coordination with a Regional Water Supply Resiliency Study led by Sonoma Water. The District’s LWSES demonstrated that although many local supply alternatives are limited, three alternatives were promising, including the Stafford Dam Adjustable Spillway Gate Project, which could increase storage in Stafford Lake by 236 million gallons.

2024–2025: We installed advanced meters for our commercial customers, increasing water use awareness for our larger water users.

Find out more about the Stafford Dam Adjustable Spillway Gate here.

Low-Income Rate Assistance (LIRA) Program

This program is available to eligible low-income customers and provides a credit on a two-month billing cycle of $30 per bill or $180 per year.

A direct water customer who has a single-family residential account and is eligible for PG&E’s income-based CARE program is eligible for the District’s LIRA Program. Once approved, the discount would apply to your next billing cycle.

To request an application or for further information, call our billing department at 415-897-4133 or click here.

Administration Headquarters and Water Quality Laboratory

Earlier this year, construction was complete on the District’s remodeled Administration Building and new Water Quality Laboratory. Our Administration Building office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9am to 4pm to serve existing and new customers. The new state-of-art laboratory provides ample space to conduct required testing for the high-quality water provided to our customers and accommodate future testing needs in the ever-changing world of regulations and procedures.

The new laboratory received state certification at the end of July, which allows District staff to conduct microbiology, metals and inorganic chemical testing to ensure the water delivered to our customers meets or exceeds all state and federal water quality standards. The District laboratory also provides important testing services for its other water and wastewater enterprises in West Marin and to partner agencies throughout Marin County.

2024 Water Quality Report

Our 2024 Water Quality Report is now available! Check it out here.

The Future of PG&E’s Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project (PVP)

The PVP has transferred water from the Eel River to the Russian River since the early 1900s, providing a water supply benefit to the upper watershed and to one of Sonoma Water’s reservoirs, Lake Mendocino.

At the end of July, PG&E submitted a License Surrender application to the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) to decommission all of the PVP’s facilities. In 2023, a new public entity, the Eel Russian Project Authority, was created to negotiate a transfer of certain PVP assets and to construct a new water transfer facility—the New Eel Russian Facility.

To learn more about the project, click here.

Visit Our New Low Water-Use Demonstration Garden

Find the perfect plants for your garden and more information about the plants in this Demonstration Garden, including a self-guided garden map with a detailed plant list here.

Captured by Matt Spinetta

Captured by Matt Spinetta

Pay Your Bills Online

Pay your bills online. Sign up for autopay and paperless billing here.

New State Regulations on “Cross-Connection” and “Backflow” Prevention

A cross-connection is an actual or potential connection between the District’s potable water distribution system and a customer’s property where there is another liquid, gas, or auxiliary water supply (such as a well or unpermitted water source). Backflow is the undesired or unintended reversal of the flow of water or other liquids, gases, or other substances from a customer’s property into the District’s water distribution system.

Controlling and preventing a “cross-connection” or a “backflow” is a public health priority that the District is tasked with upholding as part of our delivery of water to your house or business. Regulations that govern these standards of protection date as far back as 1924 and in July of 2024, the state of California mandated new rules for prevention. In July of this year, the District submitted its Cross Connection Control Program Manual and a Plan for implementing the new state guidelines, and recently received approval.

For more information on these requirements, including examples of when a backflow prevention assembly is needed, click here.

Cash for Grass

North Marin Water District recently increased the incentive for replacing regularly maintained, irrigated lawns with District-approved low water use plantings on drip irrigation. The incentive is now $1.50 per square foot of lawn area if you replace it with qualified low water use planting (up to $1,500 per single-family dwelling) and an additional per square foot rebate if the project meets the additional Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program’s criteria for delayed stormwater runoff.

Pre-qualification virtual inspection and re-landscaping plan approval are required for participation. To learn more about the program and the qualifications for the different rebate levels and to see if your project qualifies, call 415-761-8944 or click here.

Saving for a Rainy Day

The Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program partnered with the North Marin Water District and Marin Water continues to provide enhanced incentives for Marin County residents who install rain catchment systems. Harvesting and storing rainwater runoff not only prevents potential pollutants from entering our waterways, but it also provides a ready source of supplemental irrigation for homeowners’ gardens and landscapes. Plus, every gallon of water stored in these systems saves a gallon of potable water, supporting sustainable water use for our region. With rebates increased to $0.75 per gallon – up to $2,000 available for each

customer – now is the perfect time to take advantage of catchment system rebates. Learn more about the rebate by clicking here.

Investing in Your Water System

Capital Improvement Project Recap

Pressure Regulating Stations Maintenance

The District’s system includes over a dozen specialty valves that help keep water pressures in normal ranges for certain neighborhoods. This summer, we repaired or replaced each one of those specialty valves as part of the District’s proactive approach to maintaining critical facilities and to ensure their proper operations for years to come.

Cherry Hill PS Retaining Wall Repair

We rebuilt a wooden retaining wall that failed last winter at a key pump station located on Robinhood Drive. This facility is also home to one of the specialty valves that regulates system pressures. The pump station fills the nearby Cherry Hill Tanks and that water serves much of the surrounding area.

Hayden Pressure Tank Access Improvements

We improved our access to an underground pressure tank that serves customers near Hayden Avenue. This project allows our crews to more easily maintain the tank and respond more quickly to outages in the area.

Crest Pump Station

We built a new pump station along Bahia Drive. The new pump station will enhance District operations in Northeast Novato and replace existing infrastructure that is beyond its design life. In addition, the new facility has increased pumping capacity for fire safety and reliability during emergencies. The project was completed on time and under budget by a local contractor.

The projects listed above are an example of some key projects completed in the prior year. For a list of current projects the District is working on, click here.

Water Smart Savings Program

North Marin Water District wants to help customers use water efficiently. That’s why we’ve put all of our water-saving promotions under one umbrella with new and easier online forms for most programs to help encourage your participation. Call 415-761-8944 for program details or click here.

Water Smart Home Survey

This free service includes thorough indoor and outdoor water efficiency checks. Virtual surveys or over-the-phone guidance can also be offered.

Water Smart Landscape Rebate

Rebates available for water-efficient landscape equipment, such as a new drip irrigation system replacing a spray system or a rain shut off device, and approved mulch installations.

Pool Cover Rebate

Rebates are available for replacement pool covers.

Cash for Grass Rebate

Get cash for removing irrigated and maintained lawn and replacing it with low water use plants. Pre-qualification is required.

High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate

NMWD offers a rebate to customers when they purchase a qualifying high-efficiency clothes washer.

Rainwater Catchment Rebate

Rebate for collection and storage of rainwater.

High-Efficiency Toilet Rebate

Customers who replace an old water-guzzling toilet with a high-efficiency toilet may be eligible for a rebate.

Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebate

Rebate for weather-based irrigation controllers that use weather data and site information such as plant type and sprinkler system output to automatically adjust watering times and frequency.

Greywater Rebate

Rebate available for installation of qualified greywater systems.