MONROE — A recent partnership between American Water Resources and the Monroe Township Utility Department gives homeowners another option with their water and sewer line protections.
“The township is very pleased with the results of its bid for water and sanitary sewer service repair plans on behalf of its residents,” said Joseph Stroin Jr., director of the Monroe Township Utility Department. “We feel this opt-in plan is a very good value compared to others offered in the marketplace.
“Below market pricing, quicker response times, better coverage, enhanced restoration and limited solicitations are just some of its features. We encourage residents to compare this plan to others in order to make an informed decision on which plan, if any, is best for them,” he said.
Under the partnership, homeowners now have the option to enroll into the water line and sewer line protection programs and are offered special pricing that provides peace of mind in the event of service line problems, according to an American Water Resources press release.
American Water Resources will establish a local contractor, network and manage all claims for Monroe Township customers. Those who enroll in the program will receive 24-hour support via a toll-free hotline and a one-year warranty on all covered repairs with no forms to submit and no deductibles required.
Eric Palm, president of American Water Resources, reported that the water and sewer lines between the street and a home’s water meter are typically not covered by traditional homeowners insurance or the municipality, and said damages can be complicated and expensive to fix.
Palm said Monroe officials became aware that eligible homeowners could benefit from water and sewer line protection programs on the market.
“The township took steps to identify a company that would offer its residents competitive pricing and high performance standards, all while mitigating extensive out-of-pocket repair costs, through a bidding process,” he said. “American Water Resources was selected through a competitive process that ensured, as a provider, we could offer the best value to homeowners looking to protect themselves from unexpected repair costs that arise from normal service line wear and tear.”
Palm said American Water Resources partners with a number of other municipalities, including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
“Monroe Township is the first in Middlesex County,” he said. “Through New Jersey American Water, we offer customers in 349 cities across the state the opportunity to add service line protection to their monthly water bill. American Water Resources is currently serving over 165,000 customers in New Jersey.”
Palm said Monroe has neither incurred any costs through this arrangement, nor does the township financially benefit from the program.
“It exists solely to provide homeowners with the option of service and protection programs,” he said. “The Monroe Township Utility Department has requested that in lieu of the township receiving any monetary benefit from this program, all savings be passed along to their participating residents.”
In addition to its protection programs, American Water Resources, which is acting as an independent corporation, not an agent of the township, will offer educational information on residents’ responsibilities for the water and sewer lines on their property.
For more information or to enroll, homeowners can visit AWRUSA.com/MonroeTwp, or call 866-273-4080, and keep an eye on their mailbox for additional materials to help with the enrollment process.
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].