GLAD YOU ASKED: Water line insurance letter from private firm; no link with city

Talk about it

Q. I received a letter about insurance on water lines. Is that affiliated with the city? Is it a legitimate offer?

A. Mitchell Public Works Director Tim McGannon said the letter has no affiliation with the city.

“It’s a private company circulating the letters,” he said. “I don’t know if they are legit or not; that is something everyone would have to do their homework on before paying for it.”

He said the insurance is likely for the service line running from the city’s water main to the home, a part of the line that is the homeowner’s responsibility.

Dan Beukelman, of American Family Insurance in Mitchell, said he has seen the letters. He said the insurance offered in the letters goes beyond typical homeowner’s insurance.

“Homeowner’s insurance covers pipes within the house, but from what I am reading, this would cover the water line from the street to your home,” Beukelman said.

He said he doesn’t see many cases of water lines outside homes breaking. He said the more common problem is a break in a sewer line.

Tags: glad you asked, news, updates, local, mitchell