Interest picks up in civic subsidy for backwater valves

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This article was published 25/02/2011 (5382 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People have been trickling into Brandon City Hall since details of a sump pump/backwater valve subsidy program were announced last week.

The program — which offers residents a 60 per cent subsidy toward the cost of installing a sump pump and drainage pit system and an in-line backwater valve system, to a maximum of $3,000 per household — was announced last Tuesday.

It’s available to property owners who either live in identified trouble zones in the Kirkcaldy Drive, Stickney Avenue, Green Acres ward and Richmond ward areas or can prove a history of sewer back-up flooding. A maximum of $1,000 will be funded for a backwater valve and a maximum of $2,000 funded for a sump pump system.

As of Thursday, the city’s planning department had taken more than 100 inquiry phone calls, but only issued a half-dozen permits for such work to begin.

That’s likely because first priority is being given to those individuals who fully meet the criteria and plan to install both systems.

"The priority is the four (trouble zone) areas, plus anyone who’s had a history of having insurance claims," said Brandon’s planning office manager Jennifer Houlihan. "We want to help people who need the help."

The program is being funded to a maximum of $120,000 this year, split evenly between the province and the city.

A shortlist has also been created for people either living outside of the identified priority areas with no flooding history or are only interested in installing one of the two features. People who have installed such measures in their homes before the Feb. 15 program announcement will also be placed on the list.

That list could be given funding consideration if uptake allows after June 21.

"If we don’t have the numbers come forward and people are willing to do one of the measures, then we’ll look at that," Houlihan said. "We’ll see how we can help."

If a resident has already made the decision to take advantage of the cost-sharing program, they should be fully expecting to shell out some cash of their own, however.

Morley Rollins with Westside Plumbing and Heating says the company has been handing out estimates for backwater valves of anywhere from $1,200 to $1,800 and anywhere from $1,500 to $2,600, depending on the nature of the underground and replacement work.

Between those residents who have taken advantage of the subsidy program and those who are paying fully out of pocket, Rollins said they’ve done between 15 to 20 complete installations in the last couple of weeks.

"This is normally a slower time of the year, but we haven’t slowed down on anything since Christmastime," he said, adding the work can take anywhere from a week to a week-and-a-half to complete.

While sump pits were in short supply when the program was first announced, Rollins said he hasn’t currently experienced any product delays.

More information on the subsidy program is available by calling the planning office at 729-2110 or by visiting brandon.com.