The North Bay Water Reuse Program — Project Descriptions

Phase 1 and Alternatives

Phase 1 is comprised of an initial set of six recycled water projects that the NBWRA members certified in December 2009. Construction of Phase 1 projects will be significantly complete in 2012-2013, with the final portion constructed by 2019.

Phase 1 - Marin County

Program level analysis of three alternatives was cost efficient in providing initial environmental review.

• Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District
• Novato Sanitary District
• North Marin Water District

Phase 1 - Sonoma County

• Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
• Sonoma County Water Agency

Phase 1 - Napa County

• Napa Sanitation District
• Napa County

Phase 1 Review Allowed for Future Expansion

Phase 1 projects underwent environmental review at a project level, which provides adequate detail to approve and construct the projects. There is a program level analysis of three alternative plans, called Alternatives 1, 2 and 3, which are incrementally larger than Phase 1.  

Program Level analysis of the three alternatives is a cost-effective way to provide an initial environmental analysis. If NBWRA decides in the future to expand beyond Phase 1, additional engineering, project level environmental analysis, development of funding, and formal public review would be required.

Phase 2 Options Being Explored

Partner agencies will be working together and with the communities they serve to study and identify potential new projects.

The study of Phase 2 of the NBWRP is under way, including the possible addition of new members: Marin County, Marin Municipal Water District, and the cities of Petaluma and American Canyon. Scoping studies are under way to explore new recycled water options in the North San Pablo Bay region. The studies will identify potential new projects and agencies, the geographic extent of the projects, and the scope, schedule and costs to complete the Phase 2 feasibility study and environmental documentation.

The scoping studies will provide NBWRA and its potential new members a better understanding of the potential scope and scale of Phase 2. The agencies will then have the information necessary to decide whether to proceed with a full feasibility study for the Phase 2 alternatives.

If the NBWRA decides to conduct a feasibility study, it will include financial, engineering and environmental evaluations of proposed uses for recycled water and will examine how the expanded Program will provide municipal and agricultural users with a reliable source of water in addition to providing environmental benefits for fish and wildlife through wetlands and habitat restoration.