Administration - Frequently Asked Questions
NOTICES:
Only one Reminder Notice will be issued after the regular bill is mailed. The Reminder Notice will be mailed 10 days prior to the due date. All charges are due, in full, by the due date.
CHARGES: (Late and Turn-Off)
Charges will be assessed based on the number of times a customer has failed to pay by the due date in the past 12 months.
First Time:
A letter is sent to the customer stating that we did not receive payment by the due date. A $6.00 Late Payment Charge is then added to their account. To avoid additional charges, payment must be received in the NMWD office within 48 hours.
Second Time:
A letter is sent to the customer stating that we did not receive payment by the due date. A $20.00 Late Payment Charge is then added to their account. To avoid additional charges, payment must be received in the NMWD office within 48 hours.
Each Time Thereafter:
A service representative will go to the consumer’s service location and water service will be shut off. Service will not be resumed until payment is received or arrangements made with office staff in the office. A "Notice to Consumer" tag will be left stating water has been shut off and a $25.00 Trip Charge will be added to their next bill.
Turn On Charges:
$35.00 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.)
$60.00 (evenings, weekends, and holidays)
This information is passed on to the consumer by the answering service
You can mail your payment to:
North Marin Water District |
Payment Center |
P.O. Box 511529 |
Los Angeles, CA 90051-8084 |
You can pay on-line by going to https://www.nmwd.com/account_onlinepay.php.
To check the meter, put on gloves, and insert a tool such as a screwdriver in the hole and pry open the concrete or plastic lid. A concrete lid is heavy, so be careful when handling it. (Do not use your fingers.) Set the lid aside and check carefully inside the meter box to avoid contact with insects or rodents. To read the meter, lift the cover. (Always replace the cover on your water meter after you are finished.)
This is a good opportunity to make sure your meter box is accessible by clearing out vegetation or debris that may be blocking access to the meter.

The first digit on the right represents one cubic foot, the second from the right represents 10 cubic feet, the third from the right represents 100 cubic feet, or one CCF, and so on (see illustration).
One revolution of the water meter sweep hand equals 1 cubic foot or 7.48 gallons.
If your meter does not have a low-flow indicator, you can use the sweep hand to detect leaks. Turn off all faucets and water using plumbing fixtures or appliances. Mark the position of the meter sweep hand lightly with a pencil.
Wait approximately 30 minutes before rechecking the sweep hand. If it has moved, a leak is indicated.
The register face has a sweep hand as well as an odometer-type totalizer. To determine the size of your leak, you need to measure how far the sweep hand moves over time. If the sweep hand moves one complete revolution in one minute, 7.48 gallons have passed through the meter. If the sweep hand moves one half of a revolution in one minute, 3.74 gallons have passed through the meter. You do the math.
If a leak is on the service line between the main and the meter, that water doesn’t pass through the meter or register as water use for the customer. This type of leak, or those on any of the meter connections, will be repaired by NMWD at no cost to you. If the leak is on your side of the meter or inside your house, you need to call a plumber or make the repairs yourself.
When the water is turned off, the low flow indicator should not move. A circular motion by the indicator suggests a leak.
You can detect a leak by removing the toilet tank lid and placing leak detection dye tablets, a few drops of food coloring, or some laundry-bluing agent in the toilet tank. Do not flush the toilet. If you see color in the toilet bowl after 15 minutes, you have a leak.
Two common toilet leak locations are at the overflow pipe or the flapper valve.
To determine if the leak is at the overflow pipe, look for water flowing over the top of the overflow pipe. If it is overflowing, the water level is too high. If you have a toilet manufactured before 1982 that uses 5-7 gallons per flush, you can adjust the water level by gently bending the float arm down so that the valve shuts off when the water level is a half-inch below the top of the overflow pipe. Many 3.5-gallon toilets (manufactured after 1982) can also be adjusted the same way. Some 3.5-gallon toilets, or ultra low flow toilets that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush, may have an adjustment screw on the float arm to lower the water level. Sometimes the ballcock assembly itself is worn, causing water to run continuously into the tank. If the ballcock assembly is worn, it needs to be replaced.
If the leak is not at the overflow pipe, check the flapper valve. If it appears to be deteriorated or does not seal completely, it should be replaced. You can find a replacement flapper valve at your local hardware store.
If your toilet still leaks, you may need the assistance of a plumber or handyman.