Help paying for sewer backup protection

In the 100 largest cities, these utilities pay for or reimburse backwater valves, sump pumps, overhead sewer conversions, or flood-proofing, in each program's words. Cities checked without such a program are listed with the page checked.

Programs

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Water Department: Basement Backup Protection Program

What it pays: "Free backwater valve installation to reduce backups.""PWD will pay for all work related to the installation.""Licensed contractors will complete the work at no charge to you."¹
Who qualifies: "Providing free plumbing upgrades to homeowners who experience water backing up through basement fixtures during wet weather.""To be eligible for this program, your property’s water bill must be current."¹
How to start: The program's page

Official page

Columbus, Ohio

City of Columbus, Division of Water (Columbus Water & Power): Project Dry Basement

What it pays, who qualifies: "This program will cover the cost of an approved backflow prevention device for single and two-family homes in Columbus that have experienced sewer backups from surcharging of the public sewer system during wet weather or blockages."²
How to start: "You must report your basement backup to the 24-hour Sewer Maintenance Operations Center (SMOC) at 614-645-7102"²

Official page

San Francisco, California

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Floodwater Grant

What it pays: "Established in 2013, the floodwater grant program reimburses residents and businesses up to $100,000 for installing flood protection projects on their property."³"the grant program can provide a maximum grant amount up to $100,000 per property."⁴
Who qualifies: "The Floodwater Grant is for San Francisco property owners who experience flooding from the public right-of way or backflow events from the sewer system during heavy rains."⁵
How to start: "please call the Floodwater Grant team at (415) 523-4412""Following the site visit, the grant team will send you a Site Opportunity Assessment and next steps to apply for the grant."⁵

Official page

Washington, District of Columbia

DC Water: Backwater Valve Rebate Program

What it pays: "rebate of 100 percent of the cost associated with installing a backwater valve, up to $6,000 per property."⁶
Who qualifies: "For those property owners in the combined sewer area who have not yet taken part in the program, and had a documented sewer back-up since 2012, the reimbursement rate continues to be 100 percent, up to $6,000.""Those who have experienced a documented sewer back-up related to the September 10, 2020 storm, are now eligible for a rebate of 100 percent of the cost associated with installing a backwater valve, up to $6,000 per property."⁶
How to start: "To determine the eligibility of your property, please click on the “New Backwater Valve Request Form” button below.""For home-owners or plumbers who have completed their backwater valve installation, use the link below to upload the required documentation for review and payment."⁶

Official page

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville MSD: Private Property Illicit Discharge Program (sump pump disconnection)

What it pays, who qualifies: "MSD will pay the costs, up to a limited amount, of disconnecting and redirecting sump pumps for property owners who do so voluntarily.""Once the disconnection passes inspection, the Private Property Illicit Discharge Program will pay the contractor directly."⁷
How to start: "call 502.540.6600 or [email protected]"⁷

Official page

Portland, Oregon

City of Portland Environmental Services: Sewer Backup Prevention Program

What it pays: "The resident pays the first $100 of installation costs. The City will pay the next $1,500."⁸
Who qualifies: "Residents of combined sewer areas subject to basement flooding may apply."⁸
How to start: "Once an application is approved, the resident hires a plumbing contractor."⁸

Official page

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District: Pipe Check

What it pays: "Foundation Drain Disconnection - Install sump pump & discharge piping, disconnect foundation drain from sanitary sewer lateral, and remove existing palmer valve. $3,800""Remove Palmer Valve, Only - Identify the location of palmer valve, remove existing palmer valve, cap foundation drain, and restore the site. $400""Reroute Existing Sump Pump Discharge - Disconnect existing sump pump discharge piping from the sanitary sewer, and reroute to a building code approved location. $300""MMSD will pay the incentives directly to your contractor, which will be deducted from your final bill."⁹
Who qualifies: "Property is located within the MMSD service area""Property is a one or two-family home""No income requirement to participate"⁹"MMSD serves twenty-nine communities in Wisconsin: Bayside, Brookfield, Brown Deer, Butler, Caledonia, Cudahy, Elm Grove, Fox Point, Franklin, Germantown, Glendale, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, Milwaukee, Muskego, New Berlin, Oak Creek, Richfield, River Hills, Saint Francis, Shorewood, Thiensville, Wauwatosa, West Allis, West Milwaukee, and Whitefish Bay."¹⁰
How to start: The program's page

Official page

Kansas City, Missouri

KC Water: Keep Out the Rain KC

What it pays: "KC Water will, for a limited time, fix those connections at no cost to the property owner.""KC Water will cover the cost of the evaluations and any qualifying repairs."¹¹
Who qualifies: "Property owners in the program areas have an opportunity to have their improper connections fixed at no cost."¹¹
How to start: "Repairs will be completed by plumbers who are licensed to do business in Kansas City and have been pre-qualified to participate in Keep Out the Rain KC."¹¹
Note: From KC Water's launch news page. The program's own page answered HTTP 403, so whether it is still open was not confirmed.

Official page

Cincinnati, Ohio

Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati: Sewer Backup Prevention Program

What it pays, who qualifies: "If you have experienced two or more sewer backups from the MSD public sewer system over a five-year period due to inadequate capacity, you may be eligible for the installation of a backup prevention device on your property at no cost."¹²
How to start: "To determine eligibility, property owners must fill out a questionnaire describing the history of sewer backups on the property.""Please contact the Prevention Program Office at (513) 244-5100 or [email protected] to obtain a questionnaire."¹²

Official page

Madison, Wisconsin

City of Madison Engineering Division: Backwater Valve Program

What it pays: "This program allows property owners to apply to be reimbursed 75 percent of an installation cost up to $1,500 for a backwater valve.""City Engineering will reimburse 75 percent of the lowest quote amount up to a maximum reimbursement of $1,500."¹³
Who qualifies: "Eligibility for inclusion is limited to 1- and 2- unit residential properties that do not have an existing backflow valve and were constructed more than five years ago."¹³
How to start: "Property owner will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the work and submit them to City Engineering.""City Engineering will mail a reimbursement check to the property owner."¹³

Official page

St. Louis, Missouri

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District: Sewer Backup Prevention Program (Sewer Separation Program for properties with a history of MSD backups)

What it pays: "Through this program, MSD pays for modifications to a property’s plumbing to protect against future backups, and provides ongoing maintenance and repair of installed devices."¹⁴
Who qualifies: "For those with a history of building backups as a result of MSD issues, MSD offers a special Sewer Separation Program."¹⁴
How to start: The program's page

Official page

Toledo, Ohio

City of Toledo: Basement Flooding Grant Program

What it pays: "The first $1,000 of eligible work is covered by the City.""Second $1,000 of eligible work is matched 50/50 up to a total of $1,500 maximum grant amount.""The grant maximum is $2000 for Homestead Exempt or recipients of the Home Energy Assistance Program."¹⁵
Who qualifies: "Owners of property in the City of Toledo that experiences sewer backups from overloaded main sewers are eligible."¹⁵
How to start: "The application must be submitted with a minimum of two written quotes."¹⁵

Official page

Checked October 5, 2026; confirm on the official page.

Checked, none found

New York, New York: nyc.gov (PDF)
Los Angeles, California: sanitation.lacity.gov
Chicago, Illinois: chicago.gov
Houston, Texas: houstonpublicworks.org
Phoenix, Arizona: phoenix.gov
San Antonio, Texas: saws.org
San Diego, California: sandiego.gov (PDF)
Fort Worth, Texas: fortworthtexas.gov
Jacksonville, Florida: jea.com
Austin, Texas: austintexas.gov
Indianapolis, Indiana: info.citizensenergygroup.com
Seattle, Washington: seattle.gov
Denver, Colorado: denvergov.org
Nashville, Tennessee: nashville.gov
Las Vegas, Nevada: lasvegasnevada.gov
Boston, Massachusetts: boston.gov · bwsc.org
Baltimore, Maryland: baltimorecity.gov
Fresno, California: fresno.gov
Sacramento, California: cityofsacramento.gov
Atlanta, Georgia: atlantawatershed.org
Raleigh, North Carolina: City of Raleigh brochure (PDF)
Miami, Florida: miamidade.gov
Virginia Beach, Virginia: oem.virginiabeach.gov
Minneapolis, Minnesota: minneapolismn.gov
Tampa, Florida: tampa.gov
Cleveland, Ohio: clevelandohio.gov (PDF)
Honolulu, Hawaii: honolulu.gov
Orlando, Florida: orlando.gov
Newark, New Jersey: water.newarknj.gov
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: pgh2o.com
Buffalo, New York: buffalosewer.org

Could not be read

San Jose, California: the page answered HTTP 403.
Charlotte, North Carolina: the page answered HTTP 403.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: the page answered HTTP 403.
Detroit, Michigan: 3 pages answered HTTP 403.
Memphis, Tennessee: the page answered HTTP 403.
Tucson, Arizona: the page answered HTTP 403.
Mesa, Arizona: the page answered HTTP 403.
Omaha, Nebraska: the page answered HTTP 403.
Oakland, California: the page answered HTTP 403.
St. Paul, Minnesota: the page answered HTTP 404.
Fort Wayne, Indiana: the page answered HTTP 403.

Not checked

No official page was read for these 46: Dallas, El Paso, Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Long Beach, Bakersfield, Tulsa, Aurora, Arlington, Wichita, New Orleans, Henderson, Anaheim, Lexington, Stockton, Riverside, Irvine, Corpus Christi, Santa Ana, Greensboro, Durham, Jersey City, Lincoln, North Las Vegas, Plano, Gilbert, Anchorage, Reno, Chandler, Chula Vista, Lubbock, Laredo, Port St. Lucie, St. Petersburg, Glendale, Winston-Salem, Irving, Chesapeake, Garland, Scottsdale, Boise, Richmond, Frisco, Cape Coral, McKinney, Huntsville.

Cities: the 100 largest by the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimates.

Help paying for septic repairs · Help paying for well repairs · Lead pipes

Programs change and run out of money. Check the official page before you hire anyone.

Sources

Checked October 5, 2026.

Health facts on this page come from the agencies linked here. About this directory.