October 1, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sewer Backup Assistance Now Available
DECATUR - Financial assistance is now available to Decatur homeowners with sanitary sewer backup problems.
The Decatur City Council recently approved a program which will cover 75% of the cost of installing an overhead sewer system to address sewer backups. The system operates similar to a sump pump, routing the waste water to a sealed tank and pumping the wastewater up and out through your existing plumbing pipes. The system’s name comes from the fact that the new system’s plumbing is always connected “overhead” to either existing or new pipes that lead out of a house.
As part of the program the City will pay 75% of the costs of installation - up to $5,625 - and applications must be accompanied by proof of prior backups. Homeowners shall submit at least two estimates for the work from licensed plumbers and city reimbursement will be made based on the lowest estimated cost if an applicant is approved.
Funds for the program will come from the City’s sewer fund. The majority of overhead sewer systems cost less than $7,500 meaning that the homeowner would be responsible for less than $1,875 in most cases. The program will operate on a first-come-first-served basis until all funding has been allocated and city approval will be required before applicants are accepted into the program and payments can be made.
The City estimates that it will be able to help fund about 35 systems this year based on current installation costs. In the last three years the City has received 1,978 calls from homeowners who were experiencing backups, 563 of which were not caused by the homeowner’s plumbing system and which could be fixed by installing an overhead system.
For more program information or to apply, call the City of Decatur’s Public Works Department at 424-2747 or visit www.decaturil.gov and click “departments” and then “Engineering & Infrastructure.”
For more information on this release call Billy Tyus at 424-2753.