American Water Resources of Oregon (AWR), a private insurance company, informed the Portland Water Bureau that they will be doing a sales mailing offering water service line insurance in Portland.  The Water Bureau wants to remind our customers such offers are not associated with the City of Portland, nor does the Water Bureau have any connection with AWR, or any other such insurance carrier.

In March and September of this year, private companies sent letters to Portland residents offering a repair plan for the water service line extending from the resident’s house to the water distribution pipeline, which usually runs in the street in front of the house. 

These letters stated that the line extending from the house to the water meter is the homeowner’s responsibility.  This means that if the pipeline experiences a crack or break, the resident is responsible for all associated costs. While this is in fact true, some sales literature from such insurance company has confused some residents, making them feel that they are required to have an insurance policy that is separate from their homeowner’s policy to cover any water utility line damage. 

Here are the facts that you need to know:

• There are no laws that require you to insure the water line.
• It is completely up to you to decide whether you want or need this type of coverage, and through which company you want to buy such a policy.
• If you receive a phone call from a sales person employed by a private company and they introduce themselves as having a relationship with the “water department,” this is false information. The Portland Water Bureau is a public utility, and does not contract/affiliate with any insurance providers.

Before signing an annual insurance plan that protects your water service line, the Portland Water Bureau urges caution. Some plans may be legitimate offers, but make sure to examine the fine print. For example, letters received by citizens in March 2012 noted, in small print, that the private companies’ insurance plan will not pay for residential plumbing services if the water line due to “acts of God,” frozen pipes, faulty construction or maintenance, or “normal wear and tear.” 

If you are interested in water service line insurance, the Portland Water Bureau encourages you to consider the following information:

• Review your homeowner's policy and determine if water line coverage is already provided. If you do have water line coverage, make sure to contact your insurance company and ask how this coverage would work in conjunction with an annual insurance plan.
• Determine if you have prior issues with your water line pipes or if there have been any issues in your neighborhood. This will help you in deciding the necessity of purchasing an annual insurance plan.
• Compare several private insurance policies to make sure you find the policy the best suits your needs.
• Read the fine print in the annual insurance plan carefully.
• Check the company standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Business Review and see their rating and any past government actions or advertising concerns BBB has found.

If you are ever suspicious of anything related to your water service, please call our Customer Service hotline at (503) 823-7770.

Tim Hall
Public Information and Involvement