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Frequently Asked Questions About STEP
Q. How will the city's plan affect neighborhoods on septic systems?
A. In Fall 2005, the city stopped using the state's Barrett Law for septic conversion projects. Under the Barrett Law, the city could charge property owners for construction of city sewers in existing neighborhoods. The Septic Tank Elimination Program (STEP) will convert 7,000 homes from septic systems to sanitary sewers between 2009-2013.
Q. How does STEP work?
A. STEP allows the city to construct new sewers into the neighborhood. Under STEP, property owners pay a one-time connection fee and are responsible for private property construction costs associated with connecting their homes to the sanitary sewer. The city is responsible for all construction costs within the public right-of-way.
Q. How does the city determine when my neighborhood gets sewers?
A. The city will bring sewers to high-priority neighborhoods as a part of the STEP program master plan. The method for setting priorities is largely determined by septic system failure rates within neighborhoods.
PAYING FOR NEW SEWER SERVICE
Q. My property is scheduled next year for sewers. Does this new program mean I will get a free sewer?
A. No. Changing from Barrett Law to STEP has not relieved property owners of all construction and connection costs. You will still need to hire a licensed contractor to connect your home to the new sewer main, and you will be responsible for paying the city a connection fee before you can connect.
Q. How much will the new sewers cost me?
A. As a homeowner, you have three main costs to connect to the sewer:
1. Construction costs on the property. These costs include paying a licensed contractor to abandon the septic tank and install a lateral line that connects the home to the city sewer. Costs for these services are approximately $2,000, but vary per property.
2. A $2,500 sewer connection fee. Homeowners pay the sewer connection fee in one lump sum or over five years if they qualify for the city's STEP Financial Assistance Plan.
3. A monthly sewer bill. Once your property is connected to the sewer, you will begin receiving a monthly sewer bill. For a family of four, the bill averages less than $20 per month.
Q. How do I pay the connection fee?
A. If the connection fee isn't included in your contractor's bid for the work (the other permitting fees and charges are typically included in contractor's bids), then you may pay the connection fee in one of the methods described below.
1. Pay in person.
Make your payment in person at the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD), 1200 S. Madison Avenue, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46225. You must go to DMD either before your contractor goes to obtain permits, or at the time he/she is obtaining permits. If you choose this payment option, you must make arrangements with your contractor when you hire him/her to do the work.
Cash, personal checks and money orders are accepted, as well as Visa and MasterCard with a valid photo ID. Checks and money orders must be payable to the City of Indianapolis.
DMD's lobby hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.
2. Give your contractor a check or money order in a sealed envelope.
Enclose your check or money order, made payable to the City of Indianapolis, in a sealed envelope and give to your contractor. He/she will take your payment to DMD when he/she goes to obtain construction permits. Do not send cash in envelope. Ask for a receipt or proof from your contractor that you used this method to pay the connection fee.
3. If your family makes less than $41,900 a year, apply for the STEP Financial Assistance Plan.
Q. What is the STEP Financial Assistance Plan and how do I qualify?
A. Marion County residents in STEP project areas qualify for the STEP Financial Assistance Plan if their annual household gross income is at or below $41,900. The Financial Assistance Plan is not a loan. It is an installment plan that allows qualified residents to pay $49 per month, which includes administrative fees, over 60 months (5 years). To request an application packet call 327.8314. Applications will also be available at the construction public open house for your neighborhood prior to sewer construction.
CONNECTING TO THE NEW SEWER
Q. Can I connect to the sewer if and when I want to?
A. No. The Marion County Health Department requires you to connect to the new sewer system within six months of notice that the new sewers are ready for connection. State law mandates that any property within 300 feet of a sewer must connect.
Q. My property is already connected to a sewer, yet the city is putting new sewers along my street. Will I have to connect to that new sewer?
A. It depends. If you are legally connected to a municipal sanitary sewer and currently paying sewer user fees, your property may be exempt from tying into the new sewer. However, if your connection is into an interceptor (one of the main sewer arteries) or you have no documentation of legal connection, you may be required to connect to the new sewers. This is done to ensure that connections meet city standards.
Q. I think my property is connected, but I have never received a sewer bill. What do I do?
A. A dye test of your property can be conducted to see if the property is connected to a city sewer. If you are legally connected but not paying a sewer bill, you could be billed for all past sewer user fees.
Q. If I am responsible for connecting my property, how do I arrange for the hookup?
A. The city's Permits Division keeps a list of licensed contractors. The list is available at www.indygov.org/ eGov/City/DMD/Compliance/Licenses/contractors.
Q. Why can't the city connect my property to the sewer, since they're already laying pipe in my neighborhood? Why do they stop at the right-of-way?
A. The city is not allowed to work on private property.
Q. We own a double (both sides of a condo). Will we be allowed just one connection?
A. You will need a connection for both sides of the building. The city does not allow the sharing of laterals or connections, so one lateral stub out is made available for each property that needs to connect.
Q. We recently remodeled our separate garage to create living quarters above it. Can we tap the garage into our house and have one connection?
A. You will need to connect each structure separately to the sewer. City standards do not allow common or shared laterals.
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