New York, NY – The Department of Environmental Protection wants to know if plumbing companies would be willing to repair private water lines connected to city mains in exchange for low monthly insurance payments.
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Last year, 3,508 unfortunate homeowners learned the hard way that they are responsible for fixing pipes hooked up to the city’s system, even if the leak occurs in the middle of the street.
Those repairs now average a distressing $4,000 — a big hit to most families’ budgets.
But under an insurance system, which is currently in use in other cities, people would pay the plumbing company about $5 to $10 a month, and there would be no additional cost for a water-pipe fix.
The program would be completely voluntary. Right now, the city has only issued an RFEI — request for expressions of interest — to see if companies like the idea.
“Eighty percent of the leak calls we get, the homeowner ends up being responsible,” noted DEP spokesman Farrell Sklerov.
I would do it for $5 bucks a month , and if your sewer line breaks would that be covered as well?
“Eighty percent of the leak calls we get, the homeowner ends up being responsible,” noted DEP spokesman Farrell Sklerov.
Because you can’t fight city hall. If the city determines you’re responsible there is no way to fight it, and you are stuck with the bill.
The reason for this statistic is that to make a claim against NYC, it must be done within 90 days.
Typically a DEP inspector will order the nearest homeowner to the visible leak site on the surface that they are responsible to dig up the street and repair the leak.
When the DEP contractor digs up the street and finds that this homeowners line is ok. The DEP inspector will order the next neighbor to dig up and fix the leak, and so on, until the leak is found and fixed.
However if the homeowners do not complete their claim (with all the paperwork and proofs etc.) against the city for reimbusrsement within 90 days of the DEP order, they can not collect.