One question remained at the end of Monday’s meeting – how far water pipe improvements will go and who pays – Austin Utilities or the homeowner.

Tuesday, April 11, 2000

One question remained at the end of Monday’s meeting – how far water pipe improvements will go and who pays – Austin Utilities or the homeowner.

"There are a couple possibilities," Todd Jorgenson, supervisor of gas and water construction, said today. "We will be looking at each individual home."

Jorgenson said if the line going to the home is made of lead or galvanized pipe, Austin Utilities will replace the line at no charge. The same goes for any copper lines that are in need of replacing.

He explained that the age of the pipes is a major concern.

"If they are lead or galvanized pipes, they’re probably at least 50 years old, some may even be 60 or 70 years old. As long as the road is torn up, it’s our policy to fix those before they cause a problem."

If the homeowner insists on work that the utility company doesn’t determine necessary, he or she will pay the costs, not the municipal utility.

A change last year to Austin Utilities policy on water pipes – ownership of the line from the curb to the home is still the homeowner’s, but Austin Utilities pays the costs for repairs – has been beneficial, Jorgenson said.

"It’s given the construction department more leeway," the supervisor said. "Because we can tell the homeowner we want to replace his or her line. It’s still owned by them, and they have the right to say yes or no, but it would be very shortsighted and why would they?"

If the homeowner insists on work that the utility company doesn’t determine necessary, he or she will pay the costs, not the municipal utility.

A change last year to Austin Utilities policy on water pipes – ownership of the line from the curb to the home is still the homeowner’s, but Austin Utilities pays the costs for repairs – has been beneficial, Jorgenson said.

"It’s given the construction department more leeway," the supervisor said. "Because we can tell the homeowner we want to replace his or her line. It’s still owned by them, and they have the right to say yes or no, but it would be very shortsighted and why would they?"