Help the City reduce basement back-ups and wastewater treatment costs by separating your home’s footing tiles from the sanitary sewer system.

What is a footing tile?

A footing tile is a drainage system on the outside of the house to drain water away from the house foundation.  In new construction, these tiles are connected to a sump pump and then pumped outside the house.  Homes built before 1970 sometimes have footing tiles connected to the sanitary sewer system and not to a sump pit. 

Why should footing tiles be separated from the sanitary sewer system?

Footing tile connections are a major source of excess water in the sanitary sewer system during heavy rains that can cause basement back-ups in your and / or your neighbor’s home.  The excess water entering the sanitary sewer system from footing tiles can cause problems throughout the system and increases wastewater treatment costs for the entire City.  Current City codes specifically prohibit connection of footing tiles to the sanitary sewer system.

What is the Footing Tile Separation Reimbursement Program?

The City is offering reimbursements up to $4,500 to sewer customers who disconnect their footing tile from the sanitary system.  The homeowner is responsible for directly contracting with and paying a contractor to complete the work.  A list of local contractors is available upon request at the Department of Public Utilities.

Description of Work:

The homeowner’s contractor will excavate at the exterior of the home where the footing tiles are connected to the sanitary sewer.  The footing tiles will be disconnected from the sanitary sewer and directed to a sump pit located outside the house.  A sump pump in the pit will remove the ground water and discharge it at a point approximately five feet from the house.  An external cleanout and dedicated electric circuit should be installed. 

Program Details

• A reimbursement of up to $4,500 will be offered to sewer customers who disconnect their footing tile from the sanitary system.Items covered include the external pump and sump pit, replacement of the sewer with PVC up to 6 feet from the house, the installation of an outside cleanout and the electrical connection.Restoration of disturbed areas is not covered.
• Reimbursements are available on a first come, first served basis until funds are exhausted.
• The reimbursement amount will not exceed the cost of the eligible work.
• The property where the footing tile separation is completed must be a sewer customer of the City of Joliet Utilities Department with an active account.Customers with past due accounts will not be eligible until the account is paid in full.
• Applicant must be the owner of the property listed on the reimbursement form.

How to apply

• Contact the Department of Public Utilities at 815-724-4220 to schedule an inspection to confirm eligibility.The inspections will be completed by the City’s licensed plumbers.Inspection appointments are available Monday – Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• Reimbursement applications will be mailed to customers who are confirmed to be eligible for the program.
• Once you are confirmed eligible, hire Contractor and schedule footing tile separation work.
• Contact the Department of Public Utilities to schedule an inspection to confirm completion of the footing tile separation.Do not schedule the inspection until work has been completed, including electrical.
• Mail the reimbursement form with itemized invoice to the City of Joliet.
• Reimbursement checks will not be mailed until the post installation inspection is completed. Please allow 30-45 days for processing.
• NOTE:The homeowner is responsible for all payments to Contractor.City will not pay Contractor.