Halloran Recommends DEP Sewer, Water Line Protection Program for Northeast Queens

Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, said he has signed up for a water and sewer line protection program offered by the city and recommends that northeast Queens residents consider doing the same.

More than 25,000 Queens residents have signed up for the city Department of Environmental Protection’s protection program, which DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland estimates will save enrolled rate payers approximately $2.8 million this year in cost of repairs to residential water and sewer lines.

“While I can’t tell anyone what to spend their money on, I think it’s a good plan and have signed up for it to protect my own home,” Halloran said. “Recent storms have taught us that we never know when disaster will strike. Our district is unique in the city in that it’s made up mostly of one and two-family houses that we’ve worked so hard to us. We all want to protect our biggest investment – our homes.”

Last year, state Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, called on the DEP to ease the financial burden on homeowners who were forced to pay for repairs to breaks in their connection to the city’s water line.

In December, the DEP announced that it had chosen American Water Resources as its protection program provider.

Under the city’s program, American Water Resources will offer a $3.99 per month fee for water line coverage and $7.99 for sewer line coverage. Customers will be charged for the services on their regular water and sewer bills.

Patch wants to hear from its readers. Are you planning on signing up for the DEP program? And had you previously been forced to pay for water line breaks at your home? Post your comment in the section below.