⚠️ Massapequa Water Main Break 2026: Brown Water After Merrick Road? (February 2026)

By Glenn Taylor, Owner of pHountain Water Filtration | Published February 18, 2026 | Updated February 18, 2026

Let's be real. You woke up this morning in Massapequa or Wantagh after yesterday's water main break on Merrick Road, went to brush your teeth, and the water looked like weak tea. Or maybe you threw a load of laundry in, only to pull out shirts stained with orange streaks.

You aren't crazy, and it's not just your house.

Following the massive freeze-thaw cycle we just hit on Long Island, our aging infrastructure is taking a beating. According to Liberty Utilities and SCWA reports, the breaks on Merrick Road and Waterbury Drive have stirred up decades of sediment sitting at the bottom of the town mains across Long Island.

I've been testing water on Long Island for over 15 years, and I see this every single winter. The town crews do an incredible job fixing the pipe, but they can't fix what happens inside your home plumbing once that dirty water enters your service line.

Stop guessing if it's safe. Let's talk about what's actually in your water right now.

1. The Situation: February 2026 Water Main Break Details

Residents across the South Shore are reporting severe water discoloration following a series of weather-related water main breaks this week. According to Liberty Utilities and SCWA reports, the rapid freeze-thaw cycle has caused significant infrastructure failures across Long Island in the following specific locations:

• Massapequa: A major water main break occurred overnight on Merrick Road, between Biltmore Blvd and Alhambra Rd. Homes near Massapequa High School and along Park Boulevard are reporting the worst discoloration. While repairs were completed early this morning, the pressure restoration has scoured the pipes, releasing iron sediment into local service lines.
• Wantagh: Liberty Water crews responded to a water main break at Waterbury Drive and Wantagh Avenue. Homeowners in the Wantagh Woods neighborhood noticed low water pressure for several hours.
• Oceanside: Residents near Waukena Avenue and the Oceanside Recreation Center are still experiencing turbidity (cloudiness) following earlier repairs this week.

Note from Glenn: Even if your water pressure has returned and the break is repaired, the "brown water" effect often lags by 6-12 hours. This is because the sediment plume travels slowly from the main street into your home's smaller pipes.

2. Is Brown Water Safe? The Hidden Risks

While utility companies like SCWA and Liberty often classify this sediment as an "aesthetic" issue (primarily iron and manganese), it poses real risks to your home and comfort.

• Appliance Damage: The grit from a water main break acts like sandpaper. If it enters your hot water heater, washing machine, or dishwasher, it can permanently damage seals and sensors. We've seen this countless times across Long Island.
• Staining: High iron content will turn white laundry yellow or orange, and can stain sinks and tubs.
• Lead Concerns: According to EPA guidelines, physical disturbances from repairing a main break can, in rare cases, shake loose lead particles from older residential service lines.

The pHountain Verdict: "Safe to drink" by federal standards does not mean "good to drink." You should not be bathing in or cooking with water that looks like tea.

3. The Process: How Sediment Gets Into Your Home

4. Case Study: The Merrick Road Water Main Break

(Names have been changed for privacy)

• The Customer: "The Russo Family," homeowners in Massapequa living 3 blocks from the Merrick Road water main break.
• The Issue: Mrs. Russo woke up to find her morning coffee water was orange. She immediately called the town, who advised her to "just run the water." After 4 hours, it was still brown.
• The Findings: Because Mrs. Russo had run her hot water tap first, she had inadvertently pulled sediment-filled water into her hot water heater.
• The Fix:
  1. We isolated her main line.
  2. Performed a high-pressure whole-house flush (bypassing the heater).
  3. Installed a pHountain Nell System to catch the remaining grit from the street.
• The Result: Clear water within 45 minutes, while her neighbors dealt with stained laundry for two more days.
• Savings: The Russos stopped buying bottled water, saving significantly every month while their neighbors continued buying cases at the store.

5. Step-by-Step: How to Flush Your Pipes

If you see brown water right now, follow this strict protocol to protect your appliances:

1. STOP: Do NOT use hot water. This will trap sediment in your water heater tank.
2. REMOVE: Take off the aerators (screens) from your faucets if possible.
3. FLUSH (Lowest First): Go to the lowest tub or sink in your house (usually the basement or first floor) and run the COLD water for 10-15 minutes.
4. CHECK: Once the lowest tap runs clear, move to the upper floors and repeat.
5. FILTER CHECK: If you have a fridge filter or under-sink filter, do not use it until the water is clear. The sediment will clog it instantly.

6. The Solution: Stop Sediment Permanently

You don't need a pitcher filter that you have to refill 10 times a day. You need a fortress for your plumbing.

The pHountain Nell System is designed specifically for Long Island water. It's a commercial-grade, whole-house system that targets the specific contaminants we see after these water main breaks across Long Island.

What The Nell System Targets:

• Sediment & Dirt: Stops the "brown water" before it enters your pipes.
• Chlorine & VOCs: Targets the chemical tastes and odors common in municipal water.
• PFAS: Addresses the "forever chemicals" that are a concern across Long Island.
• Hard Water Scale: Protects your appliances without using salt.

7. Why Long Islanders Trust pHountain

Since 2010, pHountain Water & Wellness has been protecting Long Island homes from water issues just like this. Here's why over 2,000 families have chosen us:

• Family-owned since 2010. We're your neighbors, not a national chain.
• Local headquarters. Visit our showroom at 384 Moffitt Blvd in Islip.
• In-house licensed plumbers. We never subcontract—every installation is done by our own team.
• 24/7 emergency service. Call (631) 991-3995 anytime.
• 10-year comprehensive warranty. Peace of mind you won't get with big-box store filters.
• 2,000+ families served. Trusted by Long Islanders for 15+ years.

8. Comparison: Why Pitchers Fail During Water Main Breaks

(Swipe left/right on mobile)

9. How This Compares to Past Long Island Water Main Breaks

Long Island has experienced severe winter weather before, but the February 2026 Merrick Road break is part of a larger pattern. According to SCWA data, water main breaks across Long Island have been increasing as infrastructure ages:

• January 2026 Deep Freeze: 224 breaks across Suffolk County
• January 2018 Bomb Cyclone: 268 breaks (record high)
• January 2014 Polar Vortex: ~180 breaks

The Merrick Road break is just one of many failures this winter. SCWA maintains over 6,000 miles of water mains across Suffolk County, with much of the infrastructure still made of brittle cast iron from the 1960s and 1970s. These pipes have a lifespan of 50-75 years, according to EPA infrastructure guidelines—and we're now well past that point.

10. The Hidden Danger: Road Salt Contamination

The Deep Freeze didn't just cause pipe breaks—it also led to heavy applications of road salt and brine to keep Long Island highways and local streets safe. While necessary for winter safety, this creates a secondary water quality problem.

Long Island sits on a sole-source aquifer, meaning all drinking water comes from underground. According to the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act, road salt dissolves into runoff, percolates through soil, and eventually reaches the aquifer. This increases sodium and chloride levels in drinking water across Long Island.

SCWA monitors salt levels, but contamination can take weeks or months to show up in test results. Homeowners with private wells are especially vulnerable.

11. What SCWA and Liberty Are Doing About It

Both SCWA and Liberty Utilities have committed significant resources to infrastructure improvements across Long Island, including:

• Replacing cast iron mains with modern ductile iron
• Upgrading pumping stations
• Installing leak detection technology

However, with thousands of miles of aging pipe, water main breaks will continue across Long Island for years to come. The Merrick Road break won't be the last.

12. Official Resources & Emergency Contacts

13. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does a whole house filter cost?
A: Every home is different based on plumbing size and water quality. However, most families find the monthly finance cost is less than what they already spend on bottled water. Contact us for a free quote.

Q: Do filters target PFAS?
A: Yes. The pHountain Nell System is designed to target a wide range of contaminants, including PFAS (forever chemicals).

Q: Is Massapequa water safe right now after the water main break?
A: According to SCWA, discolored water from sediment disturbance is not a health hazard. However, "compliant" water can still contain sediment that makes it unappealing to drink. If your water is brown, we recommend not drinking it until it clears or is filtered.

Q: My water is clear now, do I still need a filter after a water main break?
A: Yes. The visible brown water is just the peak of the event. Invisible sediment and increased chlorine levels often persist for days or weeks after a break. A whole-home filter ensures consistent water quality regardless of what's happening in the municipal mains.

Q: How long does discolored water last after a water main break?
A: Discolored water typically lasts 24-72 hours after a water main repair, but can persist for up to a week depending on your distance from the break site and the condition of your home's plumbing. Running cold water taps for 10-15 minutes helps flush sediment faster.

Q: Will a water softener prevent brown water?
A: No. Traditional salt softeners do not remove sediment. You need a whole-home filtration system with a sediment pre-filter to catch rust and particles from water main breaks.