You May Qualify for Reimbursement Due to a Residential Sewer Backup

If you experience a sewer backup in your home after February 1, 2021, you may be eligible to receive assistance from the City for damages. Under its the Sanitary Sewer Backup Policy (SSBP), which took effect February 1, 2021, you may be reimbursed for damages if the backup was caused by a City sewer main blockage.

Read more about the new SSBP policy in the Resource Library box. The brochure includes info you need if you experience a sewer backup. The letter is for local plumbers you may call for service if a backup occurs.

Criteria for Reimbursement

The backup was caused by a blockage in the sewer main line and not in the connection to your home’s service line.
This is the first sewer backup at this address since February 1, 2021.
You sign a release waiving any further claims against the City and its staff in exchange for payment.
You agree to install and maintain a backwater valve in your service line to prevent future problems.

FAQs

Why do I have to sign a release? What does it say?

The release protects the City of Greensboro from repeated claims arising from the same incident. When you sign it, you:

Acknowledge receipt of payment to reimburse you for damages to your property.
Release the City from any future claims arising from this incident.
Agree to install a backwater valve on your sewer service line.

The release specifically notes terms of the release transfer to future property owners.

What is a backwater valve and why do I have to install it?

A backwater valve allows sewage to flow out from your house to the sewer main line and if properly maintained, prevents sewage from the sewer main line from flowing back into your home.

Since 1930, the state plumbing code has required backwater valves on sewer connections, but many properties do not have them. By installing and maintaining a backwater valve, you protect your property from future backups.

Why does the City reimburse for damages only on the first occurrence at an address?

What if I’m renting this house?

Why doesn't the City pay for a blockage in my service line?

The purpose of SSBP is to assist homeowners who did not know their home requires a backwater valve. The valve does not protect a home from backwater that results from blockages in the service line, only from blockages that occur in the City's main line.

Flooding resulting from a house's service line blockage is usually less severe than flooding resulting from a City main line blockage, which takes place due to line damage beyond your control.

The service line, however, is part of your home plumbing and only services your home. You have control over fats, oils, grease, wipes, sanitary products, and other items that go down your drains. These things create blockages in a house's service line and cause sewer backups.

Remember No Wipes in Pipes! Only flush the four Ps: Pee, Poop, Puke, and (toilet) Paper.

Notes:

The City recommends you have its claims adjuster review and approve all cleaning and repair estimates from a qualified company you may contract with before paying for those services. The City will reimburse only those reasonable costs directly related to cleaning and repairing the damage to your home. Any costs that exceed those reasonable costs will not be reimbursed.

Also, the City will not consider any cleaning or repair costs caused by your delay in obtaining estimates and hiring a qualified company to perform these services.

This SSBP policy does not represent a legal obligation of the City, but is in the nature of a grant for qualifying homes.