(LaPorte, IN) - La Porte homes struggling with basement backups could receive money to help prevent further issues, according to Wastewater Department Director Jerry Jackson.

The City of La Porte has an extensive system of combined sewers, which carry both sanitary wastewater and stormwater. Jackson said intense rains like the one La Porte experienced over Memorial Day weekend can overload the combined sewers and cause backups in basements. He said the Basement Protection Grant Program was created to help residents alleviate the problem.

“We’ve made significant progress over the last several years to build separate storm sewers and reduce the volume of water in these combined systems, but the process is a long and expensive one,” Jackson said. “In the meantime, the grants can help fix the plumbing in homes requiring more immediate assistance.”

In order the receive a $1,500 grant, the applicant’s property must be attached to the combined sewer within the city limits. The property must also be a single-family residential dwelling and cannot be a rental unit.

Applications can be found online at CityOfLaPorte.com. For more information, contact the Wastewater Department at 219-362-2354.