Private Sewer Lateral Insurance

2026-11-03

It is the intention of the City to solicit proposals for the provision of optional sanitary sewer lateral insurance for residential customers served by the Surface Water & Sewers ( SWS ) Division of Public Works . The selected provider will offer a voluntary insurance program that helps homeowners cover the cost of repairing private sewer laterals , as required under Minneapolis Ordinance 511 . 40 . The City seeks a solution that delivers competitive premiums , strong coverage limits , and exceptional value , ensuring affordability , transparency , and reliable service for Minneapolis residents . Program Objective The Surface Water and Sewers ( SWS ) Division of Public Works currently serves 98 , 000 sewer service connections . In addition , SWS also manages the city ' s stormwater system . The sewer system in Minneapolis has 830 miles of sanitary sewers , 509 miles of storm pipes , 12 miles of deep storm tunnels and 31 miles of sanitary main and interceptor tunnels are all working in conjunction under Minneapolis streets . This infrastructure helps to safely move wastewater to be properly treated , and to transport stormwater as cleanly as possible to the waters of Minneapolis . SWS is seeking qualified firm ( s ) to provide optional sanitary sewer lateral insurance . Qualified firms are encouraged to respond if they offer this insurance option . Pursuant to Minneapolis Ordinance 511 . 40 , customers are responsible for the maintenance of their private sewer lateral . The goal of the insurance protection program is to provide SWS customers with the opportunity to voluntarily purchase insurance coverage to repair their portion of sewer laterals . The City does not intend to receive any revenue , commissions , or other financial benefit from this program . Instead , the objective is to secure the most competitive premiums , strongest coverage limits , and overall best value for Minneapolis residents . The selected provider should demonstrate a clear commitment to affordability , transparency , and reliable service , ensuring that homeowners have access to meaningful protection against sewer lateral repair costs . Scope of Services Detail : Residential Sewer Lateral Insurance A . Service Plan - Provide detailed information on Sewer Lateral Insurance Protection Program regarding the following : 1 . Plan Coverage – Description of scope of coverage of the proposed program , including the limit or extent of coverage , coverage amounts ( dollar amount covered per claim ), limit of claims allowed per resident every subscription year , what level of issue the homeowner is facing is covered , televising to find issues included , guaranteed time to respond to customer calls , and timeliness of actual repairs / replacements . 2 . Plan Terms – Descriptions of program terms and conditions , including enrollment procedures and waiting period for coverage to be effective after signup , administration of late fees , potential ability for customer to catch - up on missed premiums , customers ’ cancellation policy , pre - inspection prerequisite requirements ( if any ), policy for transfer of coverage to subsequent purchaser of property , and overlapping coverage with other homeowner / renter property insurance . 3 . Plan Limitations – Description of program coverage limitations and all exclusions , including repairs or replacements not covered , limits to provider liability , compliance with local ordinances , and appeal procedure for denial of coverage . 4 . Plan Overages – Description of procedures for customers if repairs or replacements exceed plan coverage limitations ( i . e ., cost to repair / replace the line exceeds the dollar amount covered under the plan ). 5 . Plan Warranty – Description of warranty provisions for repair / replacement work performed ; including warranty of workmanship and / or materials used , coverage of subsequent repair to a prior - covered repair , certifications of work performed by licensed plumbing contractors , and the process a customer would follow to request a warranty repair . 6 . Claims – Description of the claims process and the average cycle times from claim submission to the date work started and then to the project completion and site restoration dates . Provide examples of how someone submits a claim and the amount of time they are guaranteed to hear back from the provider for each claim submitted . 7 . Landscaping & Restoration – Describe how landscaping , turf restoration , fencing , backfilling , raking , re - sodding , replacement of pavement , and any other items encountered or removed during the repair are handled , and define any limits that apply . B . Customer Service - Provide detailed information regarding Customer Service , including the following : 1 . Description of what residents should expect when a service request is made , including the customer interface ( e . g ., website , telephone number to call center ). Provide procedures to handle customer service / claim requests , handling of emergency calls and non - emergency calls , scheduling of repairs , and verification of work performed . Any online services or mobile applications must be compliant with the requirements and standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ( WCAG ) Version 2 . 1 , Level AA unless a legal exception or exemption applies . 2 . Emergency repair response times and procedures for handling customer claim calls , including timeframes for responding to customers and response time for the repair contractor to respond on - site . Describe the customer interface with the Customer Service call center for emergency repairs during normal business hours , Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM , and outside of normal business hours .

Minnesota

2026-04-29