City of South Bend Sewer Insurance Program Policy Revision

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Exhibit C PROPERTY OWNER FACT SHEET CITY OF SOUTH BEND SEWER INSURANCE PROGRAM What is the Sewer Insurance Program? The Sewer Insurance Program (the Program) assists South Bend homeowners in the repair of their sewer connection lines from the outside of their building to the City main line usually located under the adjacent street. The repairs covered by the Program are those which do not result from failure to perform regular maintenance and line cleaning. After a sewer line is repaired under the Program, the owner is responsible for removal or replacement of any trees, shrubbery, plants, lawns, sprinkler systems, or other landscaping features, and for replacing hard surface improvements such as asphalt, concrete, or brick driveways, patios, sprinkler systems, gas grills, utility lines, foundations, and any other surface or subsurface improvements found on public or private property. Who qualifies for the Program? Ifyou are a residential water utility customer living in a dwelling with no more than two units or a commercial water utility customer, payingfor sewer and water service within the City of South Bend, you may have the option offiling a sewer insurance claim with the City of South Bend. If I have a sewer back-up in my home what is the procedure I . If you are experiencing a back-up in your home, please call the City's 311 service center. 2. The City's Sewer Department will determine if the blockage is a result of the City's sewer main or the residential sewer lateral to your home. 3. If the back-up is due to a blockage in your sewer lateral, you will be advised to first hire a private sewer cleaning contractor to attempt to open up your private lateral line. 4. If this attempt to open up the private lateral fails, the Sewer Insurance Administrator will work with the homeowner to sign up for the City's program, and will arrange for the owner's payment of the required $500 deductible. 5. The repair will be completed by one of the City's approved contractors with the repair and costs monitored by the Sewer Insurance Administrator. Please explain the cost of the Program: Sewer line repairs often cost several thousand dollars. Under the Program, the homeowner is responsible only for payment of the $500 insurance deductible. Before a Program qualified contractor will repair your sewer connection, you must complete forms and pay the $500 deductible or at least $100. You can arrange to pay the balance in 12 equal installments as part of your water bill by signing a payment agreement. You must also sign a separate form authorizing the City to enter your property to make repairs. Return the signed forms along with your deductible payment to: South Bend Water Works 125 West Colfax Avenue P.O. Box 1714 South Bend, Indiana 46634 The Water Works also can notarize your payment agreement if you return it to them in person. 11