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Politics & Government

Ribbon Cut on Joint-Effort Recycled Water Project

Dignitaries celebrate the partnership that resulted in a new flow of water out of the treatment plant.

The Novato Sanitary District and North Marin Water District celebrated their continued partnership Thursday with a dedication ceremony for NSD’s recently completed Recycled Water Treatment Facility and NMWD’s distribution system for the water, according to a press release. 

The new facility will treat a portion of the community’s wastewater to a level that meets or exceeds California’s strict Title 22 recycled water standards.  The highly-treated water will be delivered to NMWD where it will be used for landscape irrigation and other approved applications in the area of North Novato.

In addition to the general public and NSD and NMWD staff, attending the ceremony were representatives of various state and local government agencies and boards, including speakers who addressed the audience: Steve Moore from the State Water Resources Control Board, Bruce Wolfe from the Regional Water Quality Control Board,  Bill Long of the NSD Board of Directors, and John Schoonover of NMWD’s Board.

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Beverly James, NSD General Manager, said, “Reusing treated wastewater from homes and businesses makes good sense because it saves Novato's fresh drinking water for other important purposes and reduces the need for additional wastewater storage.”

Using recycled water from the new facility is an important part of NMWD's long-term solution to water supply issues and an example of excellent local government cooperation between neighboring public agencies, according to James.

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Many communities throughout the state, the country, and the world are turning to recycled water as a reliable, drought-proof water supply for non-drinking purposes. In the United States, recycled water has been safely used since 1929. Communities that take advantage of recycled water must adhere to strict health and safety guidelines that require routine testing.

About NSD: Novato Sanitary District was established in 1929 and since 1949 has collected wastewater from its mostly residential customer base in the Novato valley and treats it to either secondary or recycled water standards.

About NMWD:  North Marin Water District serves a suburban population of 61,000 people situated in and about the City of Novato  and several small improvement districts in the West Marin area near the coast. The District supplies reliable, high quality water and sewer services to their customers.

Here is coverage of this event by the Marin Independent Journal.

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