100 YEARS OF SERVICE
1925: Tackling Sanitation and Disease Head-On
In the early 1900s, most Novato homes relied on outhouses, cesspools, or chamber pots. Waste seeped into the ground and nearby creeks, polluting drinking water and spreading disease. The result was a community that was, quite simply, smelly and unsanitary.
That changed in October 1925 when residents voted to establish Sanitary District No. 6 of Marin County, today’s Novato Sanitary District (NSD).
The first priority was building septic tanks and leach fields, which provided immediate relief while laying the groundwork for larger wastewater solutions. This bold action put public health first and laid the foundation for the modern wastewater, recycling, and solid waste services that keep Novato clean and healthy today
Did You Know?
Long before Novato had a city government, fire district, or even a water system, it prioritized wastewater and garbage services—highlighting the pressing urgency of its early sanitation challenges.
1940s–60s: Building the First Treatment Plant and Pipeline Collection System
Septic tanks and leach fields served Novato for decades, but as the community grew, it became clear that something more dependable was needed.
In 1949, NSD built its first sewer collection system and primary treatment plant. A few years later, voters approved a bond to expand the Novato plant, while an assessment district financed the construction of a second facility in Ignacio.
These sanitary milestones transformed daily life and public health. As Novato rapidly transformed into a suburban town — with new neighborhoods, shopping centers, and freeways reshaping daily life — NSD upgraded its infrastructure to keep pace. This ensured reliable sewer service that made the community’s safe suburban growth possible
1970s–90s: A Turning Point for Environmental Action
As pollution threatened San Francisco Bay and waterways nationwide, environmental awareness surged with the first Earth Day, the creation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Clean Water Act.
NSD embraced the new environmental awareness — building a pipeline to San Pablo Bay and dechlorinating wastewater by the mid-1970s. Major treatment plant upgrades followed in the 1980s, along with a national award-
winning reclaimed water system that still irrigates over 800 acres of pasture lands off Highway 37.
In 1978, NSD made history by launching one of the nation’s first curbside recycling programs with Marin County partners, starting with newspapers and expanding to cans, glass, and plastics.
NSD grew its recycling program rapidly from 2,300 tons in 1990 to over 17,000 tons by 1997. Novato residents
could now recycle paper, yard waste, batteries, and oil — setting a national example
2000s: Innovation, Efficiency, and Environmental Leadership
NSD entered the new century with a broader mission focused on innovation, efficiency, and community health. In 2011, we consolidated our treatment facilities into a modern treatment plant with advanced nutrient removal, odor and noise controls, and energy-saving systems — protecting local creeks, wetlands, and neighborhoods.
Our Plant’s excellence has been repeatedly recognized. We have earned 13 consecutive Platinum Awards from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for perfect water-quality compliance, an achievement shared by fewer than 90 out of over 17,000 facilities nationwide.
Since 2007, we have expanded recycled water use to parks, schools, golf courses, cemeteries, pastureland, and a wildlife pond, conserving precious drinking water.
We also advanced our zero-waste goals by adding green-waste composting in 2011 and food-scrap composting in 2018.
Our rates remain among the lowest in the region for sanitary services and for garbage, solid waste, and recycling.
Come Celebrate with Us! The Hidden History Beneath Our Feet
FREE FOOD, FUN AND A PEEK BEHIND THE PIPES
Food & Drinks • Games • Science • Prizes • Kid's Zone • Music • Tours
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Novato Sanitary District – 500 Davidson Street
Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a free day of fun, food, and learning. All you need is a hat, sunscreen, and a reusable cup. We’ll provide the rest.
Highlights include:
- Off the Grid food trucks
- Community booths, games, and prizes
- Historical displays and guided tours of our facility
- Interactive science demo
- Music and a Kid's Zone with face painting, games, and a Moon Bubble Show
Please bring your own cup and sip sustainably. Beverages will be provided.
THROUGH THE YEARS
