St. Petersburg is home to nearly 1,000 miles of private sewer laterals, and officials say faulty pipes contribute significantly to flooding and wastewater overflow issues.
Private laterals are underground pipes that connect homes to the city’s sewer system, and they can crack or deteriorate over time. While homeowners often struggle to afford costly repairs, the city announced Monday that it launched Phase 1 of the nascent Private Lateral Rehabilitation Rebate Program.
Eligible single-family homeowners can now receive full reimbursements for projects that routinely top $7,000. In a prepared statement, Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersley said the initiative “benefits both homeowners and the city.”
“By investing in private lateral repairs, we’re helping residents protect their homes while also making smart, data-driven improvements to our sewer infrastructure,” Tankersley added. “It’s a key part of our long-term strategy to build a more resilient, efficient and sustainable wastewater system for all of St. Pete.”
Administrators believe the program can reduce inflow and infiltration from ground and surface water, respectively, by 34%. That number jumps to 64% when combined with municipal rehabilitation efforts.
City council concerns centered around participation and cost. The city could spend $152 million helping replace private plumbing through 2035.
Neighborhoods with the highest recorded inflow and infiltration levels, “leaky areas,” can participate in the first phase. Officials have dedicated $500,000 to the program and will cover inspection and repair bills on a first-come, first-served basis.
A city ordinance requires homeowners to maintain their private laterals. Faulty pipes can cause sewage to back up into homes and yards or inundate the city’s wastewater system.
Mitigating infiltration decreases the number of sewage overflows, improves treatment processes at water reclamation facilities and reduces the need to increase capacity. Special projects coordinator Kira Barrera said in February that private rehabilitation is “more cost-effective than the public side.”
Neighborhoods eligible to participate in Phase 1 include Historic Old Northeast, North Kenwood, Allendale, Coquina Key, Bahama Shores, Broadwater and most of west St. Petersburg. Phase 2 encompasses every other neighborhood with single-family homes.
Residents can check an interactive map to determine their eligibility. The city’s website states that Phase 2 homeowners with sewer lateral problems “may be eligible for funding during Phase 1 of the program if the issue can be demonstrated through a CCTV (closed-circuit) video.”
Early participation could prove lucrative. While the city will provide full rebates during Phase 1, officials will cap inspection and rehabilitation rebates at $5,000 in the second phase, which they expect to commence in October 2026.
The program expands upon a successful pilot study in 2019. Over 300 homes in Pinellas Point were eligible to participate; 61% received inspection, 43% underwent repairs and the area’s inflow and infiltration rate decreased by 34%.
Barrera said those percentages were “right in line” with the study’s goals during her presentation to the council in February. “It’s great work to get some answers, get data and get all the information,” said Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz. “But the reality is, it’s going to take people’s willingness to do this as a collective to solve an issue in our city.”
Administrators expect about 100 homeowners to apply in the first phase. Barrera said they hope to “address even more properties and expand participation as those funds become available.”
Councilmember Mike Harting questioned if a $5,000 reimbursement would coax someone to spend significantly more on upfront costs. Barrera acknowledged that many residents would not apply unless they experienced major plumbing issues or were about to sell their home.
“Usually, they wait until they absolutely have to – until there are backups, until there are depressions in their yard,” she added. “It is a challenge for us to prevent this (inflow and infiltration).”
However, Pinellas County caps its rebate at $3,500, and the program has an 80% participation rate. Barrera said that was due to officials strictly enforcing a related ordinance.
Administrators plan to discuss updating St. Petersburg’s ordinance in the future. Tankersley noted the city has nearly 1,000 miles of pipes, and the “linear feet of private laterals are almost exactly the same as it is for the public side.
“Our public side is leaking, and the private side is leaking – that is why we have to tackle both.”
For more information on eligibility requirements and the application process, visit the website here.
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com
