News

Water hook-up cost triples

Staff Report
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 2:00 PM PDT

The cost of hooking up a water connection to a new home in Novato will increase by 200 percent over the next three years to $32,640 up from the current $10,972, under a rate increase approved by the North Marin Water District.

The fee hike is needed, water district officials say, to generate revenue to help cover costs being passed along to improve the Sonoma County Water  Agency’s water-delivery system. The Sonoma agency provides about 80 percent of Novato’s water from the Russian and Eel rivers through an underground pipeline alongside Highway 101.

“We want to make sure that new development pays its fair share of the costs,” said David Bentley, the auditor-controller for the North Marin Water District.

The higher fees will be phased in over three years. Housing developments underway now can lock in the current fees if they pay before Jan. 1 and commence building within 12 months.

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