Racine to award $500,000 of Sump Pump installation grants to Homeowners
posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2024.
The
City of Racine will give up to $5,000
to 100 homeowners this year to install a new sump pump that will
help keep their basement
dry and help prevent
the sanitary sewer system from getting
overwhelmed during storms.
Residents can
apply for the grants starting
Tuesday, September 3rd either through the city website,
or in-person at Racine City Hall. The grant money will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 100 property
owners who are approved.
Applications can be filed here: https://app.polimorphic.com/organizations/racine-wi/blueprints/sump-pump-program-questionnair/apply
“We’re helping
people protect their homes while also protecting the environment,” Mayor Cory Mason
said. “Nobody wants
rain to flood their basement, and we don’t want that water in city sewers
where it will be needlessly treated and could overload the system. These sump pumps
will help keep basements dry, and Lake Michigan clean.”
Sump pumps installed under this program will replace foundation drains
in older homes
that send storm water directly
into sanitary sewers. The pumps instead
will channel water away from
home foundations and onto the
lawn.
Rainstorms send more water flowing into the sewers
either through those
basement drains or cracked underground pipes. Racine’s Wastewater Utility is working
to reduce that flow during
storms. That effort
will avoid wasting
money treating uncontaminated rainwater, and lowers
the chances of basement backups
or release of partially treated,
disinfected water into Lake Michigan
during heavy storms.
As
part of that broader effort, the utility set a long-term goal of installing 2,000 sump pumps in Racine by the end of
2031.
This is the second
year the city has awarded
grants for sump pumps. Eligible
homes must currently
have a foundation drain that connects to the city sewer, and have no major code violations or outstanding taxes.
After the City of Racine
approves a home as eligible
to participate, the homeowners will select a licensed contractor to install a sump pump. The city will pay the contractor up to $5,000 after the sump pump is installed and passes inspection. If a project
costs more than $5,000, the homeowner will be responsible for the remaining balance.
Residents can learn more
about the program and file online applications for the sump pump grants here: https://sump-pump-cori.hub.arcgis.com/. Questions about the
program can be emailed to clerks@cityofracine.org.