Water and Sewer Service Lines
Did Who Know?
Water and sewer service lines connect a homeowner’s property to the Town’s water and wastewater systems. Homeowners are responsible for repairs to the portion of water and sewer service lines located on their property. If a leak, break or clog occurs in the private portion of these lines, the homeowner is responsible for hiring a plumber or contractor and paying any of the associated repair costs. A breakdown to these lines could happen without warning resulting in an unexpected and costly emergency repair. The lifespan of a service line depends on many factors including construction material, soil conditions and use and the location, number and species of nearby trees.
While not typically covered by basic homeowners’ insurance, residents are encouraged to check with their current provider to find out what their coverage is in this area, and to arm themselves with information such as deductible amounts and exclusions or confirm if coverage is offered as an add on.
Residents may also consider coverage from an external service plan provider.
The Town of Cochrane has partnered with Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC), an independent company, to offer eligible homeowners optional repair plans which can help protect residents against potentially expensive emergency repairs to water/well service lines or sewer/septic lines on their private property. The partnership with SLWC provides a way to increase a homeowner’s awareness of their responsibility for these costs, while offering an optional solution for those who would like to participate.
Participation is optional and voluntary for homeowners. The program is solely managed by SLWC and uses no public funds. Residents will not be solicited in person or by phone. A homeowner who chooses to enroll in this program should do so with the knowledge that the Town of Cochrane in no way warrants or is liable for the work or performance of SLWC.
Residents who choose to sign up for a plan have access to these benefits:
- A repair hotline available 24/7, 365 days a year
- No deductible, Pay $0 for covered repairs up to a benefit amount
- Repairs performed by an insured and licensed plumber
- One-year guarantee on covered repairs
Plans Available in the Town of Cochrane:
- Exterior Water Service Line coverage – $6.30 per month + any applicable taxes
- Exterior Sewer/Septic Line coverage – $8.10 per month + any applicable taxes
- Interior Plumbing and Drainage Coverage – $8.10 per month + any applicable taxes
For more information
- Please contact SLWC at: 1-866-922-9004
- View SLWC Plans or visit www.slwofc.ca
- Email: hello@slwofc.ca
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
SLWC is an independent company, separate from your local utility or community. SLWC is partnered with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and plans are available in over 75 municipalities across Canada. SLWC has saved Canadian homeowners $15 million on 28,000 jobs over the last decade (based on savings from Canadian homeowners with a plan from SLWC, from January 2015 to January 2025)
There are several benefits the voluntary SLWC program brings to Town of Cochrane and its residents, including:
- Educating residential property owners about their responsibilities for the maintenance, repair and replacement of water service and sewer lines (portion from their homes to the property line) – at no cost to the Town.
- Assuring the Town that all repairs are performed to code and that all appropriate permitting is pulled.
- Reducing expense to property owners and the Town because the service plans encourage residents to report exterior water service and sewer/septic leaks in a timely manner. Timely exterior water service line repairs conserve water and reduce water loss for the Town. Timely sewer/septic line repairs also help minimize wastewater pollution.
- Resulting in fewer calls and involvement of Town personnel regarding infrastructure that is the responsibility of property owners helps save overall taxpayers money.
Buried underground, exterior lines can be vulnerable to many factors which may lead to an unexpected breakdown. Your lines may weaken, break, may be susceptible to freezing temperatures, and corrosion, and sewer lines may become blocked due to tree roots.
Typically, most basic homeowners insurance does not cover repairs from normal wear and tear. Most homeowners are surprised to learn that the repair and replacement of broken or leaking utility lines on their property from normal wear and tear is usually not covered on basic homeowners insurance policies. While most basic homeowners policies will pay to repair the damage created by failed utility lines (such as floor damage from a water leak), they typically do not cover the cost of the repair of the line itself when damaged from normal wear and tear. SLWC encourages residents to call their insurance company to determine their actual coverage.
A plan from SLWC is a service plan on the water and or sewer lines themselves and covers repairs due to normal wear and tear, including frozen lines and tree roots that break through a sewer line. Plans have no deductible, but rather plans include covered repairs up to a benefit limit (with multiple service calls annually). Plans from SLWC also arrange for a licensed and insured contractor to perform any necessary work.
Yes, coverage provides for repair or replacement of well and septic lines. It does not include Septic tanks or any other type of collection tank.
The Town of Cochrane allows SLWC to use its logo in communications to indicate that there is a formal relationship in place and to let residents know that the offering is legitimate, it is for the residents’ benefit and has the approval of the Town. All mailings SLWC sends to residents are first reviewed and approved by Cochrane staff prior to use.
SLWC is committed to transparency in all its communications. All SLWC materials clearly state that the services the company offers are voluntary and that they are offered by SLWC, an independent company that is separate from the Town of Cochrane.
To be removed from future mailings, contact SLWC directly by emailing hello@slwofc.ca and providing your name and full address.
How the partnership Works
