I'm the sister of a newly widowed woman living in Folsom, California, with pipe leaks and collapsed ceilings in her home. Thousands of homes in the Folsom area have experienced problems with pinhole leaks in their water pipes that caused significant damage. Yet, despite investigations by prominent engineering consulting firms who found City water at fault, Folsom City Council has only authorized a waiver of permit and inspection fees for any repairs related to the pinhole copper pipe leaks for affected residents.

My sister's first leak was in July 2020, with the shocking collapse of the ceiling in her entryway. Then, in August 2020, the adjacent hallway ceiling collapsed, followed by the horrific collapse of the in-home office ceiling in October of that same year. The result was the loss of the office computer and multiple copiers in addition to the growing water damage, clean-up, ruined carpeting, furniture and all other associated costs and stress. The homeowner's insurance policy, which they had paid for years, refused to pay any claims and dropped the policy. In addition, her livelihood was affected because she teaches piano and voice lessons from her home. She had to cancel lessons for over two months while dry-out and clean-up took place.

 

This week, almost two years later, they experienced the 4th leak and ceiling collapse in the hall bathroom. Their homeowner's insurance dropped them years ago after the first leak, and no one will insure them until they re-pipe their entire house, about $12,000. Adding to her anxiety, my niece is immunocompromised. She has to go to dialysis for four to five hour sessions hours, three times a week because she has stage 5 kidney failure called End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), making the water damage, collapsed ceilings, and mold/mildew even more dangerous due to her fragile health. The medical debt already racked up is overwhelming, and she has been, as I write this, in the hospital for three days for emergency care. My sister is grieving the death of her husband and now has the responsibility of being the sole income after my brother-in-law's passing on March 1st.

 

A plumber can come and fix the leak, but it's like putting a band-aid on a gushing wound; it won't take care of the problem. The home needs all the pipes replaced, as do many other homes in Folsom, for the same reason. My sister is unable to do this on her own. Donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you!