When Collette S., of Mill Valley, first thought about calling Marin Water’s free on-site Conservation Assistance Program to help address her home’s high water use, she found herself frozen. 

She was convinced the high usage was her fault, and that inviting a District staff member to her home was really inviting trouble – a mandate to cut back or a potential “scolding,” even. 

She had one other big concern, one that was decades in the making. 

Shaped out of an initial offering of bare dirt and craggy vines, Collette’s urban farm of fruit trees and raised beds for vegetables was the prize of her Mill Valley home of 41 years. It provided food for family and neighbors, and satisfaction for Collette, an Iowa native who always feels closest to her roots when she’s getting her hands dirty outside. 

“I really didn’t want to give up that practice,” said Collette, who feared Marin Water staff would recommend ditching the garden to save water. “My family has always had gardens. There’s a part of me that feels like tending my garden is part of a legacy that I’m carrying on from my grandparents and great grandparents.” 

So she waited. And waited. And waited. Several months passed before she picked up the phone in late May and dialed the number to Marin Water’s Conservation Assistance Program. A reassuring voice greeted her on the other end of the line. 

“John (Llaverias) was lovely. He immediately put my mind to rest,” Collette Said. “He talked about the supportive nature of the service (the District) could provide – that we could be detectives together.” 

Along with an initial phone call, Marin Water’s Conservation Assistance Program involves a site-visit from a District water efficiency expert, who not only helps customers track down leaks and potential water waste, but also evaluates the efficiency of plumbing fixtures and appliances, answers questions and walks customers through easy water-saving tips. 

Typically, appointments last about an hour and a half. But it took John less than 30 minutes to find the source of high water use at Collette’s home. An incorrect adjustment to the home’s irrigation controller after some contract work for an accessory dwelling unit had Collette’s sprinkler system running three times as often as necessary. 

“Once he discovered the way they were set up, in error, we re-set them together, and talked about how I could monitor it,” Collette said. “It was a huge relief. I thanked him over and over again.” 

In the two months since the appointment, the home’s water use has plummeted – reduced by nearly 60% compared to the same billing period a year ago. And the resulting bill for the summer months was $800 less than it would have been without the changes recommended during the CAP appointment. 

Ultimately, it was Collette’s desire to cut back on water use that caused her to make the call. And she has ready advice for any Marin Water customers facing a similar dilemma. 

“Run, don’t walk, to the phone to call the conservation advisers and ask them to come visit your property,” she said. “It’s made a huge difference, both in our bill and in my consciousness and my feelings about my own water usage.”

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