HARMONIZED RESIDENTIAL WATER SERVICE CONNECTION REPAIR PROGRAM

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

(June 22, 1999)

Purpose:

To develop a strategy to upgrade the private portions of residential water service connections at no cost to homeowners, and to provide an estimate of the cost to do so.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The cost to the City to upgrade the private portions of residential water service connections in conjunction with the Residential Water Service Connection Repair Program within the street allowance is estimated to be approximately $10.96M annually.

Recommendations:

That this report be received for information.

Council Reference/Background/History:

Clause 18 of Report No. 5 of the North York Community Council was struck out and referred to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services for further consideration; and the Commissioner was requested to submit a report, through the Community Councils, to the Works and Utilities Committee on how the City could provide a water service upgrade form the City's property line to the water meter, at no cost to the homeowners.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

City Council at its meeting of June 9, 10 and 11, 1999, adopted with amendments a Harmonized Residential Water Service Connection Repair Program (Clause No. 1 of Report No. 6) for replacing water services within street allowances. Table 1 summarizes the estimated number and costs for an annual program of replacing the private portion of water services at the City's cost (extending from the street line to the meter) using the following Water Service Repair eligibility criteria;

1.Homeowner application due to non-copper material and/or when flow is less than the minimum acceptable flow of 18L/min. at the meter.

2.The City initiates the replacement of water services prior to road reconstruction and water main reconstruction where services are non-copper, copper services servicing two homes via "Y" connections and/or services with less than the minimum acceptable flow of 18L/min. at the meter.

3.The City initiates the replacement if water services develop leaks or are broken or otherwise damaged.

The annual total number of substandard water services to be replaced/upgraded under the three components is 10,030. At this estimated replacement rate, the estimated duration to replace all substandard water service should range between 25 and 35 years.

Currently, the homeowner is responsible to arrange and to pay the full cost for replacing the private portion of the water service connection. Under the Program, the City will obtain a competitive replacement price and pass it on to the homeowner, if he/she decides on replacement. However, the homeowner may choose to obtain a separate competitive price.

Should the City decide to assume the cost and responsibility for replacing the private portion of water services, the most logical, expedient and cost effective strategy is to have its contractor carry out the replacement of the public and private portions at the same time. However, caution must be exercised in assuming this responsibility as the City and its contractor may be held liable for damages arising from the work done on private property. In this regard, the City Solicitor recommends that the homeowners be required to sign a consent waiver granting the City permission to work on private property and further obtain the necessary warranty and indemnification provisions from any contractor undertaking this work on the City's behalf.

As previously stated the number private side water service connections which would be eligible for replacement annually under the criteria of the Water Service Repair Program is estimated to be 10,030. At an average cost of $900.00 for the private side replacement in the former City of Toronto and approximately $1,200.00 for the longer private services in each of the other Cities, the annual cost is $10.96M.

Conclusions:

In each of the former Cities the homeowner has without exception been responsible for the cost to replace the private portion of their water service. The City undertaking a private side water service repair program will be a significant increase in level of service at an annual cost of $10.96M, however, undertaking the complete water service repair from the water main to the meter at one time and by one contractor would ensure the work is carried out in the most cost effective and expedient manner. Given the numerous demands on the water and wastewater capital budget we do not recommend this increased level of service, especially as it would involve working on private property.

Contact Name:

Wayne Green, Director

Quality Control and System Planning

Telephone: (416) 392-8242

Fax: (416) 392-2974

e-mail: wgreen@toronto.ca