Service Line Warranty Program

Service Line Warranty Program - Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC)

The Township of Black River-Matheson has partnered with Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC) to offer eligible homeowners optional repair plans to help protect residents against potentially expensive emergency repairs to water service lines or well and sewer/septic lines on their private property.

Participation is optional and voluntary for homeowners. The program is solely managed by SLWC and uses no public funds. Residents will not be solicited in person or by phone. A homeowner who chooses to enroll in this program should do so with the knowledge that the Township of Black River-Matheson in no way warrants or is liable for the work or performance of SLWC.

Residential property owners are responsible for the water service and sewer lines on their private property. Optional Exterior Water Service Line, Exterior Sewer Line and Interior Plumbing & Drainage Coverage plans from SLWC can help protect BRM homeowners from potentially expensive repair costs due to breakdowns of major systems inside and/or outside their homes. 

Residents who choose to sign up for a plan have access to these benefits:

  • A repair hotline available 24/7, 365 days a year
  • Pay $0 for covered repairs up to a benefit amount
  • Repairs performed by an insured and licensed plumber
  • One-year guarantee on covered repairs

Coverage Plans Available

Plans Available in the Township of Black River-Matheson:

  • Exterior Water Service Line coverage - $5.75 + any applicable taxes
  • Exterior Sewer/Septic Line coverage - $8.00 + any applicable taxes

Service Line Diagram

Benefits

  • Residents are Benefitting: residents are becoming more educated about their responsibilities with the water and sewer lines that service their homes.
  • Common and Expensive Problem: Water and sewer line problems are common and expensive. Repairs to lines on homeowners’ property are typically not covered by basic homeowners insurance or by BRM and can be quite expensive.
  • Peace of Mind: Coverage through SLWC offers BRM homeowners peace of mind. SLWC is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays. Repairs are given the highest priority and local, licensed, and approved contractors are dispatched to customers’ homes to make the necessary covered repairs — all with no callout fees or deductibles.

Trusted Partner: BRM has partnered with SLWC, part of HomeServe offering a program that is used by over 1000 cities, municipalities, and utilities across North America, including over 65 in Ontario. SLWC has been in business since 2014 and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. SLWC and its parent, HomeServe, provide service to more than 4.7 million homeowners, and has performed more than 6 million repairs for customers, and received high ratings from customers receiving service.For more Information

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Shared responsibility for water and sewer service lines

The Town and homeowners share the ownership of and responsibility for the repair and maintenance of water and sewer service lines.

The Town owns and maintains the water service line from the watermain to the water shut-off valve (referred to as the public portion). Property owners are responsible for the portion of the service line from water shut-off valve to their home (referred to as the private portion).

Similarly, for sewer service lines, the Town owns and maintains the sewer service line from the sewer main to the property line (referred to as the public portion). Property owners are responsible for the portion of the sewer service line from the property line to their home (referred to as the private portion).

Home insurance and SLWC Coverage

Maybe. Homeowners are encouraged to contact their insurance provider to understand if their policy covers repairs to the exterior water and sewer service lines due to normal wear and tear, whether or not additional coverage can be added to their policy and at what cost, and their responsibilities in the event of a private water or sewer service line failure. If the policy does not cover the repair of water and sewer service lines, homeowners may wish to consider alternatives.

No. SLWC offers service plans as an independent private provider. Although the plans use terms like deductible, coverage and exclusions, the plans are not insurance, but a contractual pledge to arrange a contractor to repair your water and sewer service lines.

Insurance provides the ability to transfer the potential financial consequences of a loss to an insurance company, in exchange for a policy premium. When an accident occurs, insurance is intended to cover the costs to put the policy holder back in the same financial position they were in right before the event occurred. Insurance coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the policy issued and may not respond to all events. For more information about insurance coverage for the private portion of water and sewer service lines, property owners are encouraged to contact their insurance provider to understand the extent of their policy coverage, and their responsibilities in the event of a private water or sewer service line failure.

Service Line Warranties of Canada provides services in the event of the failure of a private water or sewer service line due to wear and tear. Should a service line fail, Service Line Warranties of Canada will coordinate any covered repairs with their network of qualified and insured local contractors. Their contractor will obtain the necessary permits, locates and will perform the repair or replacement of the service line. Service Line Warranties of Canada will also pay the contractor directly, up to your plan’s benefit amount.

Service Line Warranties of Canada and its partnership with the Township of Black River-Matheson

If you would prefer to not receive any marketing notifications (such as email, direct mail, or phone calls) from SLWC, please contact SLWC at 1-844-616-8444.

The Township saw an opportunity to educate homeowners about their responsibilities for the maintenance, repair and replacement of the private portion of their water and sewer service lines (from inside the home to the property line or water shut-off valve).

The Township can also be assured that all repairs performed on this critical infrastructure meet the Ontario Building Code and that all appropriate permitting is obtained.

SLWC offers homeowners optional and voluntary affordable protection for unexpected costs of repairing or replacing failed or defective water and sewer service lines, as well as failed or defective interior plumbing systems.

SLWC only uses qualified local contractors so repair dollars stay within the community, helping the local economy.

The Township of Black River-Matheson has not provided SLWC with your contact information. All contact information was obtained through a third-party mailing list service and not through the Township records.

SLWC is a private company that administers optional and voluntary Exterior Water Service and Sewer/Septic Line and Interior Plumbing and Drainage coverage plans for homeowners. SLWC is a part of HomeServe plc, through its subsidiaries, an international service provider operating in the UK, France,

Spain, Japan, US and Canada. SLWC is guided by an Ontario-based General Manager, and the contractors in our network are all local Canadians, including those servicing Black River-Matheson. SLWC is an accredited Better Business Bureau organization with an A+ rating.

No. SLWC pays for all aspects of the program including marketing, customer service and repairs.

No. The agreement between the Town and SLWC specifically prohibits telemarketing and door-to-door solicitation practices.

Contact Us

367 Fourth Ave.
P.O. Box 601
Matheson, ON P0K 1N0

Phone: (705) 273-2313
Fax: (705) 273-2140
Send an Email

Subscribe to Our News

Stay up to date on the Township's activities, events, programs and operations by subscribing to our News.

Subscribe

This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Policy.