TISbnr_redwoods_oaks
Corte Madera, CA                                                                                                   September 2015
The Inside Source is produced by Marin Municipal Water District to inform local decision makers and opinion leaders on issues affecting Marin's water, people, and environment.
Features
New Cost of Service Analysis Released
Celebrate Mt. Tam in October
New Blog Posts
Spread the Word

MMWD Board of Directors 

Jack Gibson
President

Cynthia Koehler
Vice President

Larry Bragman
Armando Quintero
Larry Russell

Regular meetings of the MMWD Board of Directors are held at 7:30 pm the first and third Tuesday of each month unless otherwise noticed in the District Board Room, 220 Nellen Avenue, Corte Madera. Additional meetings are scheduled as needed. All board meetings are open to the public.
(415) 945-1455

Krishna Kumar
General Manager


Join Our Mailing List!
Upcoming Public Meetings
 
Tues., Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. 
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING 
Board Room
 
Tues., Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. 
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room
 
Tues., Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. 
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room
RESERVOIRS IN GOOD SHAPE AS WE HEAD INTO FALL
On this first day of fall we are pleased to report that reservoir storage continues to stay above average thanks to customer conservation efforts. Current rainfall since July 1 is 0.81 inches, well above the annual average of 0.53 inches. While the rain hasn't contributed significantly to reservoir storage, it does reduce outdoor irrigation needs, so it is especially welcome in a dry year like this one.

Visit our Water Watch page for daily water use updates and our Drought Information page for drought news. 
 
Here are the latest water statistics:
  • Reservoir Levels - As of September 22, reservoir storage is 57,773 acre-feet,* or 72.6% of capacity. The average for this date is 55,473 acre-feet, or 69.7% of capacity.   
  • Rainfall - Rainfall this year to date (July 1 - September 22, 2015) is 0.81 inches. Average for the same period is 0.53 inches; last year on this date we had 0.25 inches.
  • Water Use - Water use for the week ending September 22 averaged 23.10 million gallons per day, down from 24.82 million gallons per day for the same week last year.
  • Creek Releases - During the month of August 2015 MMWD released 284 million gallons, or 870 acre-feet, into Lagunitas and Walker creeks in west Marin for habitat enhancement.  
*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons
AUGUST WATER USE MEETS STATE STANDARD
MMWD customers continue to do an excellent job conserving water, with August marking the third consecutive month we met or surpassed state conservation standards. MMWD's conservation goal for June 2015 through February 2016 is a 20% reduction in water use compared to 2013. In August our customers achieved a 20% savings. Our cumulative savings to date is 22.9%, again surpassing our cumulative goal of 20%. Thank you, and keep up the good work!

Visit our Drought Information page for monthly updates.


Month
2013 Water Production
 (AF)*
2015/16 Water Production
 (AF)*  
Savings Achieved
(Goal: 20%)
Cumulative
 Savings
 (Goal: 20%)

June
2,836 AF
2,108 AF
26%
26%
July
2,977 AF
2,287 AF
23%
24.4%
August
2,960 AF
2,369 AF
20%
22.9%

*One AF, or acre-foot, is 325,851 gallons 
MMWD BOARD RECEIVES NEW COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS
At the September 15 board meeting the MMWD Board of Directors received a presentation on the 2015 cost of service analysis (COSA), a review of the rate structure that is completed periodically. Such review is necessary to ensure that the rates allocate costs fairly and accurately among customers because water use and cost patterns change over time for a variety of reasons.

The new COSA was completed to ensure MMWD's rate structure allocates costs fairly and accurately across all customer classes (residential, commercial, institutional, and irrigation) and provides adequate revenues to fund district operations. The COSA also includes recommended changes to the current rate structure. The next step in this rate review process will be to formally announce the proposed rate changes, which the board will consider at a meeting on September 29.

The COSA is on MMWD's website: marinwater.org/Draft-COSA-9-15.
CELEBRATE MT. TAM EVENT COMING IN OCTOBER
One Tam and Mill Valley Recreation are partnering on a first of its kind celebration of Mt. Tam the weekend of October 3 and 4, 2015. MMWD is proud to be a founding member of One Tam, which was formed in partnership with county, state, and federal land managers and the non-profit Parks Conservancy to support the long-term health of Mt. Tam.  
 
The "Celebrate Mt. Tam" weekend includes walks, talks, art, music, and a family-friendly festival with more than 30 organizations that help protect and care for the mountain. Events take place on Mt. Tam and at the Mill Valley Community Center.

All events are free, but some require advance registration due to space limitations. Learn more at onetam.org/celebrate-tam.
NEW BLOG POSTS
  • While saving water is its own reward, it doesn't hurt to get a lower water bill, too. Southern Marin's Tamalpais Community Services District, for example, reduced its water bill by 66% this summer through conservation. Read on to learn more about this impressive customer success story.
  • If you can't get enough of home-grown vegetables, consider planting a winter garden. Read on for tips on how to get started.
  • MMWD is pleased to offer free, fun-filled, and memorable water education programs for schools in our service area. Read on for more information.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We welcome your comments and need your help raising awareness about water in Marin. Please share this information with your colleagues and constituents. Thank you.
Libby Pischel, Public Information Officer
Marin Municipal Water District
lpischel@marinwater.org
(415) 945-1421