Service Line Warranty Program

Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC) is a private company that provides optional and voluntary Exterior Water Service Line, Exterior Sewer/Septic Line and Interior Plumbing and Drainage Coverage plans to homeowners in over 70 municipalities throughout Ontario and Alberta. 

SLWC is a portfolio company of Canadian-based Brookfield Infrastructure and is managed locally by a Canadian team.  All contractors in SLWC’s network are Canadian, including those servicing Hamilton.

SLWC is endorsed by the Local Authority Services (LAS), a not-for-profit organization created by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and is an accredited Better Business Bureau organization with an A+ rating.

SLWC’s program was established through the City’s procurement process and approved by Hamilton City Council.

The benefits of this program and the optional plans from SLWC for homeowners and the City include:

• The City 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).
• Providing eligible homeowners repair plans to help protect against potentially expensive emergency repairs to water and sewer service lines on their property
• Ensuring repairs are completed to applicable codes and standards by qualified local licensed contractors so repair dollars stay within the community, helping the local economy.

Reducing water loss and water inflow/infiltration as protection plans encourage homeowners to repair water and sewer service line leaks in a timely manner.

This is not a City program, but rather SLWC is a program partner. As such, SLWC is solely responsible for the administration and service of the warranty programs. The Program was developed through the City’s procurement process.

A homeowner, who chooses to enrol in this Program, should do so with the understanding that the City in no way warrants or is liable for the work or performance of SLWC. The City wishes to make residents aware of the availability of this product since water and sewer line repairs can be very expensive.

The City and property owners share the ownership of and responsibility for the repair and maintenance of water and sewer service lines.

The City 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).

Property owners are responsible for care and maintenance of the entire lateral from the building to the main sewer and all repairs to the private portion of the lateral.

Maybe. Homeowners are encouraged to contact their insurance provider to understand if their policy covers repairs to the exterior water and sewer service lines, whether or not additional coverage can be added to their policy understanding any applicable deductibles and/or qualifying pre-inspections, and their responsibilities in the event of a private water or sewer service line failure. If the policy does not cover such repairs, homeowners may wish to consider an alternative plan from SLWC.

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/septic service lines. 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 that has no deductible.

SLWC provides compensation to the City for services and the use of the City’s logo when promoting the program to Hamilton homeowners.  The support of the City provides residents with confirmation of the legitimacy of the program.  This in turn results in increased enrollments, allowing SLWC to offer plans at lower prices.  The compensation offsets the administrative cost of the program to the City, however it does not generate revenue.  SLWC pays for all aspects of the program including marketing, customer service and repairs.

Yes, coverage provides for repair or replacement of either water lines or well lines, and sewer lines or septic lines.

Restoration to any area disturbed by the covered repair is limited to removal of debris from the restoration area, backfilling, raking, and reseeding of grass, reinstallation of existing soft landscaping and shrubbery, and patching of paved surfaces.

SLWC compiled its mailing list through information purchased from a third-party supplemented with information from the City of Hamilton’s Open Data License site.

Open Data is an initiative in Canada in which the Ontario government commits to providing freely shared data that can be used worldwide without restrictions. As part of this initiative, cities and municipalities in Ontario are providing address information on their websites.

If you would prefer to not receive any marketing notifications (such as email, direct mail, or phone calls) from SLWC, please contact SLWC at 1-855-326-4730.