The building we purchased was built in 1890. All of the existing piping connecting our building to the existing sewer main and water supply line buried in the street is about 124 years old. That is a significant age for horizontal pipes as they deteriorate faster than vertical pipes and we are under the assumption that at some point in the near future they will need to be replaced. What many do not realize is that the piping which connects the service in the street to the building is the owners responsibility and not the city. If this pipe cracks it can be a very costly and untimely repair running into the $1000’s of dollars and is generally not covered by homeowners insurance.

Fortunately I just found this great link through the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) which has partnered with American Water Resources (AWR) to offer a Water and Sewer Service Line Protection Program. It is a voluntary program designed to protect New York City homeowners from the unexpected costs of service line repairs. Starting July 1, 2013 rates of $4.49 per month for water line protection and $7.99 per month for sewer line protection will be offered until June 30, 2014. The fees are simply added to your water bill and for the cost incurred on a monthly basis and is a relatively small investment for piece of mind.

As we are about to do a bunch of plumbing work in our building during the renovation, my intuitive assumption is that the plumber is going to be disturbing the existing water supply and sewer lines. The banging alone during the demolition could be enough to crack the aging pipe that spans between the building and the street service. Any hammering to install the new pipe may also affect the piping to the street connection. For $12.48 per month, it may very well be a wise investment for any property owner, let alone a property under renovation…