Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority
The Sewer Service Line Replacement Program (SSLRP or "Program") went into effect January 2, 2013, to help eligible property owners who are domestic customers in Little Rock with the cost for total replacement of their sewer service line by reimbursing up to $2,500. This Program is an ongoing effort to reduce inflow and infiltration, which increases the cost of sanitary sewer collection and treatment as well as the customer's monthly bill.
With the recommendation of the Little Rock Water Reclamation Commission (formerly the Little Rock Sanitary Sewer Committee), the Little Rock Board of Directors on June 5, 2012 passed Ordinance No. 20,590 which established the Sewer Service Line Replacement (SSLRP) Program. The SSLRP Program is funded by the addition of $1 to the monthly residential bill of all domestic customers having a water meter of 3/4 inch or smaller size. All funds collected for the Program are placed in a special fund that is only used for reimbursements to eligible participants in the program. Maximum reimbursement to any eligible participant was established at $2,500.
Beginning January 4, 2016, an alternate funding source became available for use when specified conditions are met by the domestic customer. The SSLRP Program Procedures were revised at that time to clarify the requirements to qualify for this funding source. The overall effect of the revision was to accelerate the rate of reduction of inflow and infiltration in the collection system by providing funds for more qualifying domestic customers to completely replace their failing sewer service line and be eligible for the $2,500 maximum reimbursement. This revision to the Program has been recognized nationally through the EPA Pisces Award.
The SSLRP Program was designed to encourage the total replacement of older sewer service lines which contribute to the infiltration of storm water into the Collection System. Replacement of older sewer service lines helps reduce costs associated with adding additional capacity to the Collection System as well as reducing the amount of sewage flow to the Water Reclamation Facilities.
The SSLRP is a program designed to assist eligible residential Property Owners with the cost of total replacement of the private sewer service line.
The service line is the plumbing connection extending five (5) feet from the residence to the sanitary sewer main. The service line is part of the Property Owners' assets. It is the Property Owners' responsibility to maintain, and when necessary to repair or replace defective sewer service line.
There are several factors which can influence the life span of a service line including: Age, Pipe Material , Ground Conditions, Trees and Other Plants.
The Property Owners may notice or be experiencing difficulties with slow drains and backups. The service line may require total replacement when any of the above factors renders the line incapable of performing its job of moving wastewater from the property to the sanitary sewer collection system. In general, a qualified Master Plumber should be able to advise a Property Owner whether the service line can be fixed through repair or if a total replacement is required.
Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) conducts smoke testing during capital projects in order to determine if there is Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) on existing mains. This is a large scale endeavor covering multiple sewer lines and the associated service lines. LRWRA does NOT conduct smoke testing on individual Property Owners sewer service lines.
The Property Owners of a single-family residence that utilize meters of 3/4 inch or less, and are customers of LRWRA.
Contact the Property Owner or Property Management Company for further instructions on how to best proceed.
If the Property Owners has been made aware either through their own investigation (plumber) or has received a letter from LRWRA stating that the sewer service line failed smoke testing thus requiring a repair or replacement, then the Property Owner may apply to the SSLRP Program by following the SSLRP Program Procedure to determine eligibility. Applications can be obtained in person at LRWRA at 11 Clearwater Drive, Little Rock Arkansas, on the webpage for the Sewer Service Line Replacement Program, or by calling LRWRA at 501-688-1426 or 501-688-1420.
After the application has been reviewed by LRWRA, a site visit may be scheduled so that an eligibility determination can be made. Factors which are considered for eligibility are pipe age, pipe material, pipe condition. Older pipes which do not meet the current LRWRA specification for pipe materials (LRWRA Standard Specifications 02610), pipes which are deteriorated and are allowing inflow and infiltration of ground water or which have collapsed, qualify for the SSLRP. Full program procedures are available on the SSLRP webpage or by calling 501-688-1426 or 501-688-1420.
Eligible participants for the SSLRP can be reimbursed for their expenses towards total replacement of the sewer service line up to $2,500. After completion of the work and submittal to LRWRA of the Reimbursement Form, customers will be issued a check for the eligible reimbursement amount, usually within two weeks of submittal.
In June 2012 The Little Rock Board of Directors passed Ordinance No. 20,590, which named the ordinance the “Sewer Service Line Replacement Program.” Ordinance No. 20,590 implemented funding for the Sewer Service Line Replacement Program (SSLRP) through the addition of $1 to the sewer bill for each residential service line under 3/4 inches. This money is placed in a special fund from which only reimbursements through the SSLRP can be withdrawn, assuring that the money is returned to the rate payers of the City of Little Rock.
Doing your part to preserve our shared system and protect the future of the One Water we all share can start with participating in one of the FREE programs we offer, or by taking advantage of our reimbursement program that saves you thousands on replacing faulty private sewer lines that can impact the lines around you.
LRWRA offers FREE programs designed to protect the investment you’ve made into your home and the investment we’re making into protecting communities and the environment. These programs also help save ratepayers money on repairing and cleaning up after costly backups into homes or sewer releases into our environment.
Take a look at the free and easy programs we offer to help you do your part in maintaining the system.
