Dye Tests

An issue that is not discussed publicly much but that I am hearing from several constituents on is that of dye tests, specifically in the city of Pittsburgh.  In 2006, the City of Pittsburgh passed an ordinance that requires homeowners to perform dye tests prior to selling their homes to ensure that downspouts are not illegally connected to the city’s sanitary sewers.  This ordinance was put in place to help mitigate sewage overflows and maintain a functioning sewer system.

In recent weeks and months I have received emails and phone calls from homeowners and from realtors who have expressed to me their frustration over what has become a cumbersome and expensive process.  Prior to selling their house, a homeowner in the City of Pittsburgh must have a dye test performed to show where rain water is flowing.  The dye test shows whether the home is connected into the sanitary sewer illegally, and if it is, the homeowner is required to make corrections and have another dye test performed prior to selling.  Prior to completing the sales transaction, the homeowner must receive a compliance certificate from the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA).

One problem facing many homeowners is a lack of consistency from both the PWSA and the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) as to what exactly constitutes a corrective solution.  Many city residents are told they must redirect storm water into the storm sewer while others have not been required to do so.  Tapping into the storm sewer can be a very expensive process for many homeowners, costing tens of thousands of dollars.  In some cases, homeowners have paid a plumber to disconnect them from the sanitary sewer to comply with the law and have had water redirected to their back yards only to be told by the ACHD that the particular corrective solution is not acceptable.

In addition to the lack of a consistent corrective solution policy, the expense to make repairs falls squarely on homeowners.  Many homes throughout the city of Pittsburgh are over 50 to 100 years old and were originally built with the existing systems in place.  A corrective solution for a home that fails a dye test that requires the homeowner to tap into the storm sewer is often a very expensive proposition.  These homeowners did not create the problem but are being asked to pay for the solution, and the solution is not consistent at that.

Over the past several weeks I have had numerous conversations with the PWSA on behalf of homeowners and realtors that have contacted me about their specific situations in regards to the dye test and the process of getting their corrections approved.  Last week, I sent a letter to both the PWSA and the ACHD laying out these issues and encouraging them to come up with and implement a consistent policy that is fair to homeowners. 

On October 11th, the PWSA Board of Directors approved a rate increase that will be used to make capital improvements to the system.  I have also proposed the PWSA dedicates a portion of that rate increase to provide subsidies for homeowners who are forced to disconnect from the city’s sanitary sewers and take corrective action.  Additionally, there are several green alternatives that are less expensive than tapping directly into the storm sewer that should be considered like rain barrels and dry wells.

As a realtor by profession, I understand the challenges homeowners face when selling their homes and the stressful situations that often occur right before a sale closes.  The current situation playing out in the city only increases the stress and costs in trying to sell a house and is unfair to both the seller and the buyer.  I am looking forward to continuing discussing this matter with the PWSA and ACHD and am hopeful a solution can be found that is in the best interests of homeowners.