Politics & Government

City Doesn't Endorse Insurance for Water, Sewer Lines

The city of Bowie says it doesn't endorse a particular type of insurance, but says homeowners would be well served to add sewer backup coverage to their homeowner or renter's insurance coverage.

From a news release:

From time to time, various companies will contact city residents to offer insurance for the water and sewer lines located on private property. The City of Bowie is not associated with any of these companies and does not endorse or recommend any particular insurance they may provide.

The following information explains city and homeowner responsibilities for repairs which may be useful to residents considering the purchase of this type of insurance coverage.

The City of Bowie provides water and sewer service to about 7,900 properties, mostly in neighborhoods built by William Levitt & Sons. All other properties are served by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

For homes served by the City of Bowie, the city is responsible for repairs to water and sewer mains. Laterals carry water to, and sewage from dwellings. While the City of Bowie is responsible for the mains, homeowners are responsible for the portion of the laterals that run across their property to and from the mains.

On rare occasions, laterals can fail. The likelihood of failure depends on many factors including piping materials, quality of the installation, susceptibility to tree root damage, or different rates of settlement. Costs for repairs can vary depending on the length of the lateral, how much excavation is required, and obstructions in gaining access to the pipe.

When tree roots grow into the lines, sewer backups may occur. Most general homeowner insurance policies do not cover damage caused by sewer backups. For this reason, the city recommends that homeowners purchase a sewer backup endorsement to their homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, which usually costs around $25 per year.

Questions about the City of Bowie Water and Sewer Service can be directed to the Utilities Division of Public Works at 301-575-2472.

WSSC customers can read a media release on the subject, which was issued by the utility in 2012, online.


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