Water Line Guarantee

Last Spring when your grass started to grow again and you began to think about mowing, you may have noticed a spot in your yard that was a brighter color of green. Or the first time you mowed it seemed a little soggy in a certain spot. That may mean you have a water line leak. Water line leakage is caused by freezing and thawing, corrosion, crushing of the line or just general age and deterioration.

If you think the water line is leaking, the first thing you should do is call the City of Alliance Water Distribution Department at 330-823-5216. They will come out and take a look at the problem and make recommendations. If the water line needs replaced, that replacement will cost you anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000. In the City of Alliance, the property owner is responsible for the water line from the main line to the house. In areas of the City where housing was built prior to the 1970’s, the main water line is generally in the middle of the street. In newer areas, the main line may be in the curb lawn. In both cases, it’s going to cost you money to have that line dug up and replaced. The City of Alliance Water Distribution Department won’t recommend a plumber for you, but you can call the City Health Department at 330-821-7373 for a list of licensed plumbers.

In another situation, if your toilet won’t flush too well, or there’s a sink hole in your yard, or sewage is coming up in your basement, that may mean you have a problem with your sanitary sewer line. There may be tree roots growing in the line or the old clay tile pipe has separated. The replacement of that line will also cost you $1,500 to $2,000. To help avoid the problem, the City’s Water Distribution Department has a product they can recommend to customers to help control the tree roots in the line.

Recently the City Administration was made aware of a guarantee program available to our residents for both their water and sanitary sewer lines. One such guarantee is sold through Columbia Service Partners, a subsidiary of Columbia Energy Group who supplies natural gas to our City. While the City can’t recommend or endorse any particular vendor of a guarantee program, residents may be wise to invest a few dollars a month for this protection. The program will provide repairs to and/or replacement of a water or sanitary sewer line up to $3,000 per occurrence. The program will also assist in retaining a qualified contractor to help fix the line. Owners of residential single family homes are eligible. Landlords of single family homes are also eligible.

Water customers may be receiving a flyer in the mail explaining more details about the water and sewer line guarantee program. If you do purchase this guarantee coverage, please remember to call the City’s Water Distribution Department first if you suspect a leak.