City of North Bend release - The letter is legitimate, the coverage is optional, and homeowners should understand the difference between City sewer infrastructure and private service line responsibility.  If you recently received a letter with the City of North Bend logo about service line protection, you may be wondering whether it is real, what it covers, and why you received it. The short answer is: yes, the letter is legitimate — and here is what homeowners in North Bend should know.  The City of North Bend maintains an extensive public wastewater system that includes 57 miles of underground pipes, 10 pump stations, and a wastewater treatment facility near the airport. This public system works around the clock to protect public health and the environment. At the same time, each home is also connected to that public system by privately owned service lines. Those private lines are generally the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain and repair. That distinction is important. If the pipe that connects your home to the City’s main line breaks, leaks, or becomes clogged, the cost to repair it usually falls on the property owner. Nationally, service line repairs can average around $2,500, and actual costs can be higher depending on the location of the line, the age of the home, soil conditions, materials used, and how the line was originally installed. In a community like North Bend, where many homes are more than 50 years old, that can create a real financial risk for homeowners.  To help address that risk, the City of North Bend has partnered with Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA), a HomeServe company, to offer optional protection plans for water and wastewater service lines. This coverage is designed to help homeowners manage the cost of unexpected repairs to private service lines. It is not required, and participation is entirely up to each homeowner. The City does not require enrollment, and the City does not receive compensation from this partnership.  The City has authorized SLWA to use the North Bend logo in its mailings so residents know the communication is legitimate and connected to an approved partnership. The City also oversees resident communications related to the program. That said, homeowners should make their own decision about whether the coverage makes sense for their household. Before enrolling, residents are encouraged to review their current homeowners insurance policy to see whether similar protection may already be included.  For additional context, this program exists alongside broader conversations about North Bend’s sewer infrastructure. The City’s sanitary sewer system is aging, and recent public materials show that a significant share of the public collection system is already beyond its expected useful life. North Bend is also evaluating long-term capital needs for pipes, pump stations, and treatment facilities so the community can continue making planned investments in the underground infrastructure that keeps the system working safely and reliably. In other words, there are two separate but related issues homeowners should understand: the City is responsible for maintaining the public sewer system, while homeowners are responsible for the private lines that connect their property to that system.  SLWA reports that, as of April 2026, the North Bend partnership has resulted in 538 total plans, 275 customers covered, 34 claims serviced, $58,856 in customer savings, and a 4.8 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating. The company also reports millions of customers and service plans nationwide. According to City materials, SLWA has worked with hundreds of municipalities across the country and holds endorsements from the National League of Cities and the League of Oregon Cities.  SLWA’s parent company, HomeServe, has stated that it has improved its marketing practices and currently maintains BBB accreditation with an A+ rating. HomeServe also reports a subscriber base of more than 3 million customers. For homeowners, the practical question is simple: would optional coverage provide peace of mind against the possibility of a costly private service line repair?  Homeowners who want more information or who wish to enroll can visit www.slwofa.com or call (866) 922-9006. Residents who do not want to receive future mailings may email [email protected]  and include their name and complete mailing address exactly as shown on the letter.