COVINGTON, KY – The Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky (SD1) recently implemented its new Backup Assistance Program, offering financial assistance to help property owners in preventing sewer backups caused by wet-weather and increases in rain. Approved at the SD1 Board of Directors meeting, the program opened to customers on May 1, 2017.

The Backup Assistance Program provides up to $5,000 per eligible property to help pay for the installation of a backflow valve or special pump within a property owner’s plumbing system. These mechanical devices prevent backups by separating a building’s private plumbing from the public sewer system during rain events.

SD1 created the program in efforts to alleviate the burdensome costs of repairs for property owners, making it easier for owners to take action in protecting their homes against sewer backups.

Wet-weather sewer backups typically occur when an increase in rain falls in a short period of time, exceeding the sewer system’s level of service.

The $5,000 per-property maximum reflects only the cost of the valve or pump installation in a typical house, and does not cover any costs for work to upgrade plumbing or electrical systems to current standards. Total program funding in SD1’s Fiscal Year 2018, which begins July 1, 2017, will be capped at $300,000.

Interim City Manager Loren Wolff issued the City’s support of the program, stating, “This is a good first step in addressing an issue some of our residents have been struggling with for years. We’re looking forward to partnering with SD1 more in the future to move Northern Kentucky forward.”

The City has partnered with SD1 on various other projects to alleviate and repair wet-weather issues throughout Covington, including the 50/50 Cost Share Program. The program was implemented to identify and fix storm drainage issues throughout Covington.

For more information regarding the Backup Assistance Program, please contact SD1 at 859.578.7450 or visit www.sd1.org/seweremergency.