Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program

Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program
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Department of Public Works


6801 Delmar Boulevard, 3rd Floor, University City, Missouri 63130, Phone: (314) 505-8560, Fax: (314) 862-0694

Dear University City Homeowner:



Thank you for contacting us about the Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program (SSLRP). To serve you better, we have designed a simple application package for you to complete when applying to the repair program. The above application link must be completed to participate in the program.

The Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program applies only to residential buildings of up to six (6) units. The program is not available to commercial or industrial property

A sanitary sewer lateral carries waste from your home to the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) main sewer. The sanitary sewer lateral extends from your home to MSD’s main connection. MSD does not pay for repairs to your sanitary sewer lateral or the connection, as this is the homeowner’s responsibility. The City’s Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program will pay the first $2,500 of the cost of the repair of the sanitary sewer lateral line. The remainder of the proposed cost will be the homeowner's responsibility. Damaged or blocked pipes located inside/under your home are not covered under this program.

The program is limited to available funds. Only expenses approved by the City are covered under this program. The City’s program will cover the first $2,500 of the expenses specifically related to the approved repair of the sanitary sewer lateral, including excavation, repair of the sanitary sewer lateral, back-filling, pavement, seeding and strawing. The program does not cover restoration of landscaping. If you have questions, contact us at 314-505-8560.

It is also advised that our resident property owners check with their homeowners insurance to see if they may have other supplemental coverage options for sewer lines through their home hazard insurer.
 

 

University City Announces Program to

Help Homeowners Pay for Sewer Lateral Repairs

 

Program offers affordable option to cover all costs versus limit established by city

December 11, 2020, St. Louis – The University City Council has allowed the National League of Cities (NLC) to start advertising a service line warranty to the residents of University City.  This voluntary program, offered by Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA), an independent BBB-accredited business, gives homeowners the option to purchase a plan to help them pay for charges which in most situations could significantly exceed the limited funds available from the city for work to repair residential underground sewer service lateral pipes. Qualified homes include properties with up to six units. Commercial and industrial buildings are not eligible for this program.

Sanitary sewer lateral pipes carry waste from a residential property to the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) main sewer. Repairs and replacement to the sewer lateral pipes and connectors to MSD sewers are the homeowner’s responsibility. Costs are not covered by MSD or basic homeowners insurance.

The warranty plan from SLWA is available for $7.25 per month and must be in place for 30 days prior to an emergency situation occurring. In addition to no annual limit or deductible for eligible sewer line repairs, homeowners have access to a 24/7, 365-day-a-year emergency repair service hotline.  University City residents can contact SLWA directly at 833-908-2415 for additional information about pricing, service or other questions.  For questions about the program or to enroll, please also visit www.slwofa.com

The SLWA Service Line Warranty Program covers expenses for repairs needed for sewer pipes on the exterior of a homeowners’ property and includes everything from the cost of a full-camera inspection, dispatching a qualified plumber to do the work and paying the bill in-full directly to the plumber. 


With the SLWA program, up to $8,500 is available per service call with multiple service calls annually for covered repairs with no additional service fees or deductibles. If a customer’s service line requires repair, a simple call to the SLWA 24-hour hotline dispatches a local, licensed contractor familiar with University City building codes. Any additional expense may be covered by the city’s Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program (SSLRP) which has a limit of $2,500 per incident.

“The warranty program is completely voluntary and provides homeowners with coverage that exceeds the basic coverage they would receive from the city’s SSLRP,” said city manager Gregory Rose. “SLWA is an independent company. No monies are generated for University City government entities, and no public funds are used to promote or administer the program.”

Homeowner Chiquita King praises program


Many factors contribute to the life expectancy of a service line, including the age, type of piping material, soil conditions and installation quality. For example, Ms. Chiquita King has had sewer and water issues since moving into her home more than 20 years ago. So when she heard about the program from Service Line Warranties of America for University City residents she signed up. After her sewer problems escalated, she filed a claim. “I’ve never been treated so well by so many people,” said Ms. King. 


“My situation turned out to be a very complicated project that took nearly a month to complete.  Gene from the city’s Public Works department worked on my behalf from beginning to end. The warranty company sent Bosnic LLC to do the work and throughout it all, everyone kept checking to make sure the work was being done well and that I was satisfied. At the end of the day, not only did having the warranty plan save me several thousand dollars, but everyone went overboard to make sure I was satisfied every step of the way,” said Ms. King.


Coverage includes reputable local service providers


“Our service plans not only cover the cost of the repair, they also provide homeowners with reputable, local contractors who will do the best possible job,” said Tom Rusin, CEO of SLWA parent company HomeServe USA. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the University City government and look forward to the opportunity to provide the residents of University City the assistance they need when faced with home repair emergencies.” 


“In the event of a covered leaking or permanently blocked sewer line, this plan can save a homeowner a significant amount of money – a service line replacement can cost thousands of dollars,” said Rusin. 

City Manager Rose added that some of the first University City residents to take advantage of the program have reported that it not only saved them money, but also saved them the time and aggravation of finding a reliable service provider in a timely manner.

For more information, residents should contact University City Public Works Department at 314-505-8560. 

About Service Line Warranties of America  

Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) is part of HomeServe USA Corp (HomeServe), a leading provider of home repair solutions serving over 4 million customers across the US and Canada. Founded in 2003, SLWA is the trusted source of utility line protection programs endorsed by the National League of Cities, in addition to having an A+ rating with the BBB and receiving the BBB Torch Award for Ethics numerous times. Together with HomeServe, SLWA is dedicated to supplying best-in-class repair plans and delivering superior customer service to consumers through over 850 leading city, municipal and utility partners.