If you are a resident of Novato, CA, you may qualify for a grant from the Novato Sanitary District (NSD) to offset the cost of replacing your sewer lateral. This page will help to explain what the program is, how it works, and how Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can help.

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What is the Novato Sewer Grant Program?

These grants provide financial assistance to property owners in Novato for the replacement of their private sewer lateral. Dysfunction in private systems often affects the infiltration and inflow of the sewer collection system. Replacing your sewer lateral helps cut down on these problems, and can prevent costly repairs later on.

How Does the Novato Sewer Grant Program Work?

In the event of a damaged pipe or leak, home and business owners are responsible for all costs related to their sewer lateral including installation, connection, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, alteration, abandonment, or removal. With the help of a loan or grant, home and business owners can focus on preventative maintenance instead of expensive fixes after the fact.

The total cost fluctuates depending on a variety of factors, including the length of the pipe and whether or not concrete must be broken. In many cases, repairs can get very expensive, very fast. Many estimates can quickly run into the thousands. Each year, the city of Novato allocates funds to the grant program. The authorization for the 2018/2019 fiscal year is $60,000. The maximum amount of assistance for a sewer lateral replacement or repair is 50% of the approved cost, up to a maximum reimbursement of $2,000. This amount helps to assist home and business owners in the repair and/or replacement of the required sewage lateral work. Sewage leakage can cause problems in your home or business, but they can also cause unsanitary spills or exceed sewer main capacities.

How Can Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Help?

In order to qualify for a grant you must fill out an application and agree to work with an approved contractor. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is certified to make these changes, and would be more than willing to discuss our services and the ways we can be of assistance for you, your home, or business. Contact us today to learn more!


FAQs

How do I know if I have lateral sewer problems?

Chronic problems, like backups and overflows, often involve more than just a singular, simple fix. Plumbing issues like these require ongoing, professional plumbing maintenance. Odors, slow moving pipes, and ground movement around lateral pipes can also be indicative of lateral sewer problems. Some signs of damage or leakage aren’t as evident, so if you suspect something is off it’s best to get it checked it becomes a larger issue.

Why was this program created?

The private pipes in homes and business connect to public sewer mains. This means that individual plumbing problems can have MUCH larger problematic effects. In fact, private property damaged and leaky sewage pipes are responsible for an estimated 50% of sewage spills! This program seeks to help individual home and business owners while also fixing larger public sewage problems.

What do I need to do to qualify?

Complete an application form and return it to the District office. A District representative will contact you with further details, including a “letter of obligation” advising if your application has been accepted. Please do not have any work performed prior to receiving a letter of obligation. Any repair work performed prior to receiving a letter of obligation from NSD is performed at your own risk and cost, and will make the grant application null and void.

How much does it cost?

It is free to fill out the application. Following the submission of a completed application, the Novato Sewer Department will review price quotations for reasonableness of scope and cost. Additional estimates may be requested by Novato Sewer Dept. Individual property owners shall be responsible for all applicable permits and fees. The maximum grant amount to an individual property owner is half the cost of the full lateral replacement, up to $2,000. (To qualify for the grant, you are required to replace the lateral in its entirety- both the upper and lower laterals.)

Where can I go to learn more about this program?

Click to learn more about the Lateral Replacement Grant Program and view the application/checklist with the information required to qualify.

Do you need to replace your sewer lateral, fix a plumbing or leakage problem, or asses possible damages? Benjamin Franklin plumbing can help with these problems as well as many others. Contact us today at 855.638.8551 to learn how we can help you.

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