Frequently Asked Questions

1. Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) is the excess flow of clear water into the City's sanitary sewer system. 
2. Inflow is when clear water from illegal connections of sump pumps, downspouts, and foundation drains is channeled directly into sanitary sewer pipes. Infiltration is when groundwater seeps into sewer pipes via cracks or leaky joints.
3. Because the sanitary sewer system was not designed to handle this excess clear water, it becomes overloaded during times of high groundwater or heavy rainfall. This can cause basement flooding or bypassing of raw wastewater to local streams and lakes.

Once awarded, you and your contractor will schedule an appointment to make the repairs to your sewer lateral. The contractor will provide an invoice upon completion of the project. The city will directly pay your contractor for the amount of your grant award, and the remainder of project costs will be paid to the contractor directly by the resident.

Due to the process of the city paying your contractor directly, the grant program will not be able to reimburse the cost of any work, including inspections or repairs, that was completed before accepting a grant award.

You are allowed to use a licensed contractor of your choice that performs sewer lining and repair work. Please ensure that the contractor pays prevailing wages per Metropolitan Council requirement. A list of licensed sewer contractors that have completed sewer lining repair projects in Saint Anthony Village is available upon request.

It is encouraged (but not required) to seek multiple estimates, if possible, to compare and/or ensure you are getting a fair price for any recommended repairs. Please note that some contractors may require an inspection to provide an accurate estimate.

Some homeowners may not be aware that they are responsible for maintenance and repairs, including I/I issues, on their portion of the sewer lateral up until the city’s sewer line connection point. This program is an effort to encourage homeowners to proactively fix I/I issues with financial assistance on repairs that average $9,000 according to recent Met Council data.

An inspection is the best way to confirm whether your sewer lateral has Inflow / Infiltration issues. A contractor will use a televising camera to examine the condition of the pipes and identify the presence of cracks, leaky joints, root ball obstructions, or other problems. Sewer backups may also be a symptom of I/I issues – however, cleaning the sewer line to fix backups is not the same as repairing the sewer line itself.

This depends. Inspection costs are only eligible under the grant IF it results in the repair or replacement of the sewer lateral.

1. If an inspection is conducted and I/I issues are NOT found, the grant will not cover the inspection and will be the financial responsibility of the homeowner.
2. If an inspection is conducted and I/I issues are found, but the resident decides not to proceed with the repairs, the inspection costs will be the financial responsibility of the homeowner.
3. If an inspection is conducted, I/I issues are found, and the resident proceeds with the necessary repairs, city staff will work with you and your contractor to handle invoicing for the inspection alongside the repairs.

If any funds remain after the applications from May 1-31 are reviewed, the program will reopen in June. In that case, applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Updates will be posted on our website https://savmn.com/651/Private-Property-II-Grant.

Based on general program criteria, homes on the market are not eligible, but certain exceptions may apply and/or there may be other options available to fulfill the city’s “point-of-sale” requirement. Please contact Minette Saulog to learn more.

Phone: 612-782-3312