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American Water Resources Educates Arkansas Homeowners About Water Line Repairs
[June 19, 2014]

American Water Resources Educates Arkansas Homeowners About Water Line Repairs


VOORHEES, N.J. --(Business Wire)--

American Water Resources, a provider of Service Line Protection and In-Home Plumbing Emergency Programs, is proud to now offer Water Line and Sewer Line Protection to homeowners in Arkansas.

Until a homeowner experiences a service line problem, many are unaware they are responsible for the maintenance of the water and sewer lines that service their home. Since repairs to these pipes are not covered by most homeowners' insurance policies, the job of finding, hiring, and paying someone to fix a service line problem falls solely on the homeowner. Without the right services and support, the process can be extremely unpleasant and expensive - costing up to thousands of dollars. Many Americans have misconceptions about what this process entails. Nick Robles, American Water Resources Contractor Network Manager, a licensed Master Plumber with 15 years of experience, provides insight into what the necessary steps are to repairing a water line problem:

Step 1. Recognize the Problem

Pooling water or sink holes on your lawn, high water bills, plumbing malfunctions (e.g. can't use your shower, toilet or sink), and excessive water in your yard or basement are signs that something may be wrong with your water line.

Step 2. Find a Qualified Contractor

Finding a good contractor can be a complicated task. To get started, you need to do your research to determine if they are properly licensed. Once you select a contractor, you will need to manage the relationship, including all follow ups, billing and problems that might arise.

Step 3. Contractor Assessment

Once you get a contractor out to your property, the contractor will have to find the leak and assess the damage. The timing and cost for locating the leak depends on the severity of the leak or break and the length of your service line.

Step 4. Repairs

Before a contractor can begin the repair, the underground utilities must be marked, which can take a couple f days. You will also need to obtain proper permits that can cost anywhere from $70-$200 (additional permits may be necessary if the damage extends under the street). The actual digging and repair can take between 2-3 days and cost you between $1,500 and $3,000.



Step 5. Inspection and Restoration

Once the repair is made, you'll need to have the site properly inspected to make sure that the repairs have been tested for problems, completed correctly and are up to local code. Restoration including reseeding, usually takes between 4 and 8 hours, but is best completed during the spring and summer months. It usually costs a few hundred dollars. If landscaping or hardscaping, like patios or sidewalks, is disturbed during the repair the cost will increase.


"As you can see, the complexity of such a task is great," said Robles. "Even if you were to manage the process on your own, you would still incur many of the same costs and would need to use the correct materials and adhere to local codes. More importantly, without the proper expertise, you can do even more damage to your water lines, or inadvertently cause other damage while attempting repairs."

Avoiding these hassles and expenses is easy with a Water Line Protection Program, like that offered by American Water Resources. The company handles the contractor selection, assessment, permits, repair and basic restoration for you.

About American Water Resources

American Water Resources (AWR) is a provider of Water Line Protection, Sewer Line Protection and In-Home Plumbing Emergency Programs to homeowners in 43 states and Washington, DC, and currently services over 1.3 million contracts. AWR has been providing protection programs for more than 13 years, earning both a 93% Customer Service Quality Rating nationwide and an A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau. AWR also provides its Service Line Protection Programs to homeowners through municipal partnerships with the New York City Water Board, Nashville Metro Water Services and others. AWR is a subsidiary of American Water, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. For more information, visit the American Water Resources website at www.AWRUSA.com.

About American Water

Founded in 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,600 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in more than 40 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.


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