MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Several homeowners have contacted the Mayor’s office about receiving a pamphlet on an optional water line protection program.
According to the pamphlet, “for just $3.49 per month,” those enrolled in the program could receive up to “5,000 per occurrence for covered water service line repairs and up to an additional $5,000 per occurrence for covered water service line street and public sidewalk repair.”
City Attorney Will Simmons said the City of Meridian has no connection with the program.
“This is not something sent out by the City of Meridian,” Simmons said. “This is insurance that would possibly cover the replacement of a water line from the meter to your home if multiple exclusions did not apply.”
The mailer references terms and conditions found only on the company’s (American Water Resources) website. Here are some of the reasons the insurance company will not cover a claim for a leaking water line:
What repairs are not covered?
AWR will not pay for any of the following:
- Repairing anything caused by You or any third parties.
- Repairing anything in any home that is unoccupied
due to renovation, remediation or construction.
- Repairing anything caused by natural acts or
disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, landslides,
or sinkholes.
- Repairing anything caused by defective materials,
such as material that has been the subject of a
recall or class action litigation (e.g. polybutylene or
Kitec plumbing).
- Repairing anything caused by improper design or
installation of Your Water Line.
- Repairing any clog or blockage of Your Water Line.
- Repairing any main shut-off valves that are
not leaking.
- Repairing any Water Line not connected to a public
or municipal water system.
- Repairing any trunk lines that are connected to Your
Water Line.
- Repairing any interior pipes beyond the main
shut-off valve inside Your Home.
- Repairing any connections and/or extensions
to the Water Line, such as water lines to fire
suppression systems, sprinklers, irrigation systems,
pressure-reducing valves or back-flow preventers.
- Repairing anything required by any local, state
or federal agency inspection, unless otherwise
covered by this Agreement.
- Repairing any openings made in walls, ceilings or
surfaces inside Your Home for AWR’s independent
contractor to access Your Water Line.
- Repairing any third party’s water line that is
attached to Your Water Line.
- Restoring any gardens, shrubs, trees or structures.
- Restoring any sidewalks, driveways, roads or other
paved surfaces that are not required by permit to
be repaired. •Costs associated with opening and closing
any portion of Your Home’s foundation or slab to access Your Water Line.
- Moving any water meter at the time of repair, unless required by code.
- Moving any section of Your Water Line unless
necessary to complete a covered repair.
- Updating any non-leaking portion of Your Water Line
to meet code, law or ordinance requirements.
- Removing any items necessary to access Your
Water Line, such as debris, trash, rocks, cars or
temporary structures.
- Remediating or cleaning any hazardous substance
or pollutant, such as mold or asbestos.
- Thawing any frozen section of Your Water Line.
- Costs associated with traffic control (e.g. flag
men, police).
- Repairing, replacing or cleaning any portion of Your
Home or its contents that are damaged by leaks or
breaks to Your Water Line.
- Paying any costs caused by a leak or break in Your
Water Line, such as lost water costs, relocation
costs, storage costs or temporary housing costs.
- Paying any damages caused by a leak or break in
Your Water Line, such as lost time, lost use of Your
Home or its contents or any damages due to any
special circumstances or conditions.
