About the Capital Improvement Program

The District's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) ensures continuous focus on upgrading our infrastructure and functions as a tool for planning and programming investments into every component of the District’s water system, including but not limited to:

• Replacement of aging and leak-prone pipelines and storage tanks
• Improvements to dam spillways and our treatment plants
• Fire hardening of pump stations and other critical facilities
• Projects that support our water supply reliability

Funding for Capital Improvements and Watershed Maintenance and Protection

Every Marin Water customer bill includes a fixed fee for Capital Maintenance and a uniform, volumetric rate fee for Watershed Management to help fund these critical needs and improvements for our water system. The District also pursues competitive state and federal grant opportunities, when possible, to supplement funding needs. 

Fire Flow Program

Our climate is changing and the ability to successfully fight fires is an essential part of our future. "Fire flow" is the term firefighters use to describe how much water can be delivered by a water system through one or more hydrants to fight a fire at a specific location. To meet fire-flow standards, a water distribution system must deliver large amounts of water in a short period of time.

A first-ever master plan for making fire flow improvements began following voter approval in 1996. Voters agreed to pay an annual $75 fire flow fee on their property tax bills to provide additional water flow for fighting fires and to help ensure the integrity of our water transmission system following a major earthquake.

In place through 2031, the fee pays for water system improvements, including replacing aging pipes and seismic stabilization/retrofits at pump stations and pipe bridges. (Review exemptions for the fire flow fee).

Marin Water works with fire officials, city managers, and public works directors to implement this program and reports regularly to city and county elected officials.