Lateral Assistance Program

Help Replacing Your Sewer Line

What is the Lateral Assistance Program?

The Lateral Assistance Program (LAP) is an annually funded cost-reimbursement program designed to assist homeowners that have experienced or are interested in preventing basement flooding due to sanitary sewer backflow. This program provides a 50% cost-reimbursement towards the installation of KWRD-approved backflow prevention devices, private sewer line repair or replacement, and/or the removal of illegal stormwater connections.


Program Background

Defects or aging infrastructure in the private sewer lines from homes/businesses can impact the sanitary sewer collection system by allowing infiltration and inflow of storm and surface water. This additional water can cause the system to exceed its normal operating limits. When this happens, sanitary sewage can backflow into private properties, resulting in basement flooding.


Therefore, KWRD has established this program to assist homeowners in remediating or preventing these issues through the installation of a backflow prevention device or the repair/replacement of the private sewer line. These improvements will not only help to protect homeowners' basements, but will also strengthen the sanitary sewer collection system and reduce storm loading on KWRD's wastewater treatment facility.

A diagram of a property connected sewers system

Lateral Assistance Program Details

Keep Backflow Out of Your Basement

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for the Lateral Assistance Program, an applicant must be a residential property owner and must also be a current KWRD customer.  Before participating in the program, you should know the specific issue with your service lateral and have a plan to fix it. Any illegal stormwater or surface water connections to the lateral must be removed, or you must have a plan for their removal.


IMPORTANT NOTE: All plumbing/electrical work must be performed by licensed contractor(s) that are registered within the respective municipality. City of DeKalb contractors can be found on the City's website at: https://cityofdekalb.com/1092/Registered-Contractors-List. A full breakdown of program details can be found by clicking the button below:

LAP Program Guide

What's Covered By the Program?

You can get a 50% cost-reimbursement up to $7,500 for:

  • Removal of illegal stormwater connections
  • Installation of overhead sewer system or backflow/check valve (standpipes are not eligible)
  • Repair or replacement of private sewer line

Costs Covered by Lateral Assistance Program

  • Cost of location, excavation and/or exposure of homeowner's private sewer line
  • Cost of materials and labor associated installation of selected system
  • Cost of new ejector pit and pump, as well as associated electrical and/or plumbing work

Costs NOT Covered by Lateral Assistance Program

  • Permit and/or planning fees
  • Incidental costs (i.e. drywall repair, paint, carpeting, finishes, and/or flooring)
  • Exterior plantings, landscaping and/or hardscape (retaining walls, pavers, etc.)
  • New electrical panels and/or upgrades to house electricity supply
  • Use of any materials not in compliance with KWRD or municipal/county standards, ordinances and codes


Sump Pump Assistance

When illegal sump pump hookups pump water into the sanitary sewer, it puts a strain on the system and can cause backflow into your property. The City of DeKalb has a program that reimburses eligible homeowners some of the cost of connecting sump pump lines to the storm sewer, where they belong.


If you need work done on both your sanitary line and your sump pump line, you may be eligible to receive help from both programs.


FIND OUT ABOUT THE CITY OF DEKALB SUMP PUMP PROGRAM

Lateral Assistance Program - Online Application for Participation and Access Agreement

You may obtain the P.I.N. (Permanent Index Number) for your property from your real estate tax bill, or at the DeKalb County website: http://gis.dekalbcounty.org/qtas/COMPASSSearch.asp 



In consideration of good and valuable consideration, receipt, and sufficiency of which are hereby expressly acknowledged, the Owner(s) (hereinafter also referred to as “Grantors”), legal owners of the below described property, hereby warrant, grant and convey to the KISHWAUKEE WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT, a body politic and corporate of DeKalb County, Illinois, (hereinafter referred to as “District”) its engineers, contractors, agents, successors and assigns, the right to inspect, test, measure flows or otherwise monitor each underground private sanitary service the right of access thereto, in, upon, under, over, through and across the land over each private sanitary service from the property line to each building located at the property identified above.


The access for said private sanitary service, herein granted, is subject the following terms and covenants, which the District expressly acknowledges, undertakes, and agrees to fulfill to-wit:


1. The District shall be granted access as reasonably necessary to ensure Grantors’ compliance with the Lateral Assistance Program.


2. All pets shall be confined for the duration of the inspection to an area where pets will not have contact with KWRD personnel. 


3. This access shall not unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of the Grantors’ property, by the Grantors, their successors, and assigns.


4. In the event that a private sanitary service requires repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement, Grantors agree to cooperate with the District to allow reasonable additional access for such work. The responsibility for the repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement shall be governed by ordinances of the District in effect as of the date of this Agreement and as subsequently amended from time to time.


5. If the surface of the subject property is disturbed by the District, its engineers, contractors, agents, successors or assigns, at any time, and from time to time, by the inspection, testing, reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair, or replacement in connection with said private sanitary service, the District shall, at its sole cost and expense, repair and restore any disturbed property to substantially the same condition that existed immediately prior to such disturbances, including, without limitation, necessary repairs and replacements of paving and landscaping.


6. Grantors agree that the operation and maintenance of said private sanitary service shall be governed by the ordinances of the District in effect as of the date of this Agreement and as subsequently amended from time to time.


The District, as a condition of rights granted to it by this Agreement, hereby agrees to protect, indemnify and hold the owners of the above-described property harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, losses, suits, liabilities, judgements and decrees relating to the use of this Agreement, and the costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees) incident to the defense of and by such owners, in any manner caused by, resulting from, growing out of, connected with, or in any way attributable to its use of this Agreement.


 “Grantors” when used herein is intended to refer to the holder or holders from time to time of title to the Tract and to any portions thereof. All provisions of this Agreement, including the benefits of burdens, are hereby declared to run with the land and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto, as well as, the future owners of the above-described property. This Agreement will be recorded with the DeKalb County Recorder of Deeds to serve as notice of future owners of the subject property.


For the consideration expressed herein, the District joins in the execution of this document for the purpose of accepting, consenting, and agreeing to the terms and obligations contained in this Agreement.


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