This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Salt Lake City officials announced Thursday they will offer residents insurance against broken water and sewer lines.

The voluntary program offered through Connecticut-based HomeServe USA will cost $3.99 per month for water lines and $6.99 per month for sewer lines.

Jeff Niermeyer, director of the Department of Public Utilities, said residents are responsible for those residential lines that branch from main water and sewer lines.

Repairs for those lines can be as expensive as $5,000 to $7,000, Niermeyer said. Salt Lake City's infrastructure is aging and many houses have old infrastructure that could rupture, he said.

Policy holders won't have to hassle with finding contractors, said HomeServe CEO Tom Rusin.

The program includes a 24-hour emergency repair hotline.

HomeServe has 1.6 million customers and operates in all 50 states, Rusin said. Salt Lake City residents can sign up for the program today at http://www.homeserveusa.com.

Christopher Smart