FAQs

What is lateral insurance and what does it cover?: The Sewer and Water Insurance Plans (SWIP) is a plan initiated by Sandy Suburban Improvement District that covers the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged lateral sewer line, the small pipe that runs from your home to the main sewer collection line in the street. This has previously always been the complete responsibility of the homeowner. The program is provided at no additional cost to customers.

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Sewer & Water Insurance Plans

1. What do I do if I have a sewer back-up at my home?: Call Sandy Suburban Improvement District as soon as possible at 801-561-7662. The on-call staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

2. What is lateral insurance and what does it cover?: The Sewer and Water Insurance Plans (SWIP) is a plan initiated by Sandy Suburban Improvement District that covers the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged lateral sewer line, the small pipe that runs from your home to the main sewer collection line in the street. This has previously always been the complete responsibility of the homeowner. The program is provided at no additional cost to customers.

3. Does it cover my sewer backup?: No, the plan does not cover the cost of cleaning up after the backup. However, if the backup is caused by a faulty or damaged lateral, the repair or replacement of the lateral is covered.

4. Do I need to enroll in the SWIP program?: No. All residential (single-family home) customers of Sandy Suburban are automatically enrolled in the plan. You do not need to do anything to be covered by this program.

5. Will the SWIP program result in raising my sewer rates?: No. Sandy Suburban is so confident in this new program that it has committed to cover the cost of its implementation and coverage. The district has not raised property taxes in 30 years and has not raised rates in five years. We do not anticipate any increases in the near future.

6. Will I have any out-of-pocket expense to replace or fix my lateral sewer line?: There is no cost to you and no deductible whatsoever should you be required to repair or replace a lateral sewer line under this plan (please note that there is a policy limit of $15,000).

The SWIP plan covers a wide range of costs associated with repairing or replacing a lateral sewer line, including:

Improper maintenance, faulty construction, or simply an old lateral that led to a line failure
Raking and re-seeding affected areas
Restoring gardens, shrubs, trees or structures ($500 per shrub, tree, bush or structure up to policy limits)
Restoring private sidewalks, driveways or other surfaces not required by permit
Restoring the public road and/or sidewalk as required by permit

8. What if my lateral line doesn’t need to be replaced? Will the insurance plan pay for repairs or maintenance?: Yes. The plan will cover spot repairs, larger repairs and maintenance, as well as replacement of the lateral sewer line if necessary. Any kind of faulty lateral is covered.

9. Does it cover catastrophic damages?: The plan does not cover so-called “acts of God,” such as earthquakes or weather-related incidents.

10. Will it cover the clearing out of tree roots from the lateral sewer line?: Absolutely. Regular maintenance of the lateral sewer line such as clearing out a clogged line or tree roots growing inside the line is covered.

11. Why is Sandy Suburban offering this program at no cost to me?: We believe that keeping lateral sewer lines clear and working for every home will make the entire sewage system run efficiently and keep it environmentally safe too. It’s in the best interest of the entire community, from homeowners in every neighborhood to Sandy Suburban, to make sure that everyone’s lateral sewer line is running trouble-free.

Not only does this program ensure that all damaged laterals will be fixed across our community, but it also provides that they will be repaired to current industry standards.

12. What do I need to do if I experience a problem with my lateral sewer line?: It’s a no-worry process. Simply call Sandy Suburban at 801-561-7662 to start the process. Sandy Suburban staff or a contractor will come to your home to inspect the lateral sewer line to first determine if it needs to be repaired, maintained or replaced. We will respond to any incident. The work, along with payment, will be handled by the insurance company.

13. Who will do the work if my lateral line needs to be repaired or replaced?: The SWIP plan is provided by a local insurance underwriter who provides a vetted, licensed contractor to complete the work needed. In most cases, a trenchless process is used in which it is not required to dig a line in the homeowner’s yard.

14. What if I experience additional problems after repairs are made?: Just call the same number, 801-561-7662, and the contractor will ensure that the work required is finished to complete satisfaction.