City of San Mateo Reopens Cost Sharing for Sewer Lateral Repairs

The City of San Mateo has re-opened its Private Sewer Lateral Cost Sharing Program. The program had been dormant due to lack of funds. The Private Sewer Lateral Cost Sharing Program was created to assist and encourage property owners to properly maintain their lateral and ultimately reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration (I&I) into the City's sewer system. SAMCAR members are encouraged to pass this information along to prospective home owners and past clients in the City of San Mateo.

Under the program, the City provides financial assistance in the form of a grant of 50% of the lateral replacement costs (to a maximum of $5,000) to property owners completing a full lateral replacement, including a cleanout, if one does not already exist, near the property structure in compliance with the CA plumbing code and, pursuant to city standard, a new wye connection at the main line if needed.

Anyone who owns property within the City of San Mateo city limits is eligible, regardless of income or property type. These are not loans but grants and grant recipients will receive a 1099G form from the City to report this amount to the IRS on their personal income tax.

Spot repairs and partial repairs are not part of the cost sharing program. Reimbursement will be 50% of lowest bid, up to a maximum of $5,000. Please note that funding is limited and available on a first come, first served basis, for this fiscal year (July 2014 through June 2015).

Not all sewer lateral repairs are eligible for the cost sharing program. Only full lateral replacements with cleanout in compliance with the CA plumbing code, if one does not already exist, are eligible for the cost sharing program. For more information, go to: http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/index.aspx?NID=1910