AWR will not provide us waterline protection anymore (insurance, lawyer)

[lilanimegrl]

My family owns a house in the brooklyn dyker heights area and we had 2 water line leaks less than 2 years apart. DEP's affiliated insurance company, AWR did it's thing and covered the claims to get it fixed but after the 2nd time, they gave us a call and told us they will no longer cover our water line.

The contractor supposedly determined that we have an electrolysis problem which is causing the frequent water main leaks so AWR can no longer cover us for it. They told us it's getting pretty common in the brooklyn area but when we asked if they're just not covering us or our neighbors also, they won't give us a response.

DEP in response, told us to just find another insurance company. My question is, even if we find another insurance company, that does not solve the root problem as it'll just frequently break and the "new" insurance company will no longer cover us. It's a vicious neverending cycle.

I mean, what can we do as homeowners to prevent this, shouldn't this be something the government or DEP fix?

Any help is much appreciated.

[Energystream]

Ask for cathodic protection? Or laid in better soil material?

https://www.copper.org/resources/pro...derground.html

Edit* - them acknowledging the problem and not addressing it with a suitable installation is ridiculous.

[lilanimegrl]

thanks @Energystream.

Do you know if I'm supposed to hire a contractor to get this cathodic protection or is there any city aid for this? If we're hiring, do you have any recommendations; honestly, don't even know where to start looking.

From AWR's response, it's basically a wide spreading problem in Brooklyn. I would think they or DEP can offer some sort of alternative solution or assistance since it's affecting the entire neighboring area although we're probably one of the unlucky ones to have it leak less than 2 years apart.

It's ridiculous that their solution is to cut us off.

[Energystream]

Originally Posted by lilanimegrl

thanks @Energystream.

Do you know if I'm supposed to hire a contractor to get this cathodic protection or is there any city aid for this? If we're hiring, do you have any recommendations; honestly, don't even know where to start looking.

From AWR's response, it's basically a wide spreading problem in Brooklyn. I would think they or DEP can offer some sort of alternative solution or assistance since it's affecting the entire neighboring area although we're probably one of the unlucky ones to have it leak less than 2 years apart.

It's ridiculous that their solution is to cut us off.

House connections are the responsibility of the owner, also the reason there was the AWR insurance in general.

Insurance companies cut people off all the time as they don't like further insure problem cases. The first line may have broke for any number of reasons, up to including shoddy materials and workmanship. Best bet might be to reach out to the few companies that regularly install water lines. Ask them what experience they have with corrosion protection. See how they respond and keep in mind ones that actually have feedback.

You may want to ask DEP if they have requirements for lines that are in corrosive soil. If they do have some requirements, did AWR adhere to them? Might have to get a lawyer to force AWR to provide a proper and dictated installation.

Edit: Looks like you are not alone: https://abc7ny.com/home/stray-electr...ueens/3746260/

http://www.balkanplumbing.com/electr...service-lines/

[lilanimegrl]

Originally Posted by Energystream

House connections are the responsibility of the owner, also the reason there was the AWR insurance in general.

Insurance companies cut people off all the time as they don't like further insure problem cases. The first line may have broke for any number of reasons, up to including shoddy materials and workmanship. Best bet might be to reach out to the few companies that regularly install water lines. Ask them what experience they have with corrosion protection. See how they respond and keep in mind ones that actually have feedback.

You may want to ask DEP if they have requirements for lines that are in corrosive soil. If they do have some requirements, did AWR adhere to them? Might have to get a lawyer to force AWR to provide a proper and dictated installation.

Edit: Looks like you are not alone: https://abc7ny.com/home/stray-electr...ueens/3746260/

Electrolysis and NYC water main lines, Electric destroys K copper

Thanks Energystream, the links are super helpful. Will reach out to the Comptroller office.

[tommyD7115]

I thought they run the copper line in a pvc sleeve to protect the coper pipe.
R

[lilanimegrl]

Originally Posted by tommyD7115

I thought they run the copper line in a pvc sleeve to protect the coper pipe.
R

So the original pipe we had didn't have a sleeve and after the first fix, they didn't add a sleeve either. In the 2nd leak, the contractor added in a sleeve to the new pipe just for the area that had a leak previously.

We've asked why not add a sleeve to the entire pipe and they said it was illegal to do that in NY.

Shortly after, got the call from AWR about cancelling our water line insurance.