City residents who have had homes damaged by floods or are at risk of flooding and sewer backup might be able to receive financial assistance from a proposed subsidy program created to help reduce flooding risks starting this August — if the program is approved by the city.
City staff are asking the policy committee to approve the preventive plumbing subsidy program at the July 14 city policy committee meeting. Staff are recommending up to $350,000 from the city's 2010 wastewater annual capital rehabilitation program budget be set aside in this budget, and recommends similar consideration for the 2011 budget.
If the policy committee approves the subsidy program, the next step is city council. City council will vote whether or not to OK the committee's decision.
The subsidy program would help property owners cover the cost of disconnecting the weeping tile system from the sanitary sewers and install a sump pump that would discharge rain water away from the building, as well as cover the cost of the installation of a backwater valve in the sanitary discharge line.
The valve closes when there is a sewer back flow, preventing sewer backup into the basement. However, when the vale is closed, use of water within the home needs to be restricted, as water cannot escape the house either.
“The program will be available to all property owners whose properties are located in low-lying areas that have either experienced or could potentially experience flooding of their basements as a result of a municipal sewer system backup,” staff wrote in their report.
The staff report indicated up to 350 homeowners could benefit from the backwater valve subsidy and 280 for the sump pump grant or 156 for both.
Applications would be approved on a first come first serve basis and continue until the annual budget is exhausted. As a condition of approval, the property owner must provide a disclaimer absolving the city of any responsibility as a result of the owner installing any protective device and/or discharged water adversely impacting on any abutting property, either private or public.
Program requirements include:
- applicant must be the current owner of property that has flooded or experienced sewer backup since Jan. 1 2009
- property taxes are not in arrears
- eaves trough downspouts and sump pump of the building are properly disconnected from the city sewer system unless the owner can prove it is unfeasible
- property is located within the area identified in flood prone areas
- applicant has necessary permits for the work, and the work is done by a licensed plumber before the applicant applies to the program
