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Flat rate for NB pipe replacement

Feb 9, 2016 | 11:34 AM

Residents will get a discount to replace their pipes. City council passed a resolution implementing a flat fee of $1,000 to replace the pipes from the front of a homeowner’s property line to their house.

The average cost of the Underground Pipes and Asphalt Replacement (UPAR) program was $1,200. The program was implemented to replace aging infrastructure in the city.

City engineer Bob Anthony says the new flat rate makes life a little easier for home owners.

“It’s much cheaper than what they would pay to do this later on when we’re not doing the project. You save by the contractor being there at the site with equipment, with materials. If you have to pay someone to come to a tiny little job the costs go up,” he at Monday’s city council meeting.

Previously the cost to replace the pipes was done on a case-by-case basis, which was time consuming for city staff.  According to Anthony homeowners now carry less of the burden.

“It basically lets the city take the risk in the tender pricing and allows some certainty for property owners that they can count on what the cost is going to be as the project progresses.”

Currently it’s not mandatory to replace your pipes while UPAR is on your block. However, city council is looking into that possibility for houses where lead pipes are installed.

 

cstockwell@jpbg.ca