Merrick, NY: 6 Health Violations — 63/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 6 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Merrick, NY: middle-tier water safety by the latest federal monitoring.
How Merrick Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Merrick Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 13 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0042 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 92% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.69.
Water Systems Serving Merrick
Merrick, NY draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 6 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Merrick, New York (population ~35,172), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 480,705 people region-wide.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 6 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Merrick: C (63/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Merrick water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0042 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 1019 | Other | 12 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2099 | Other | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11566 | C | 13 | 6 | Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick |
All ZIP Codes in Merrick
- 11566 [C] — 13 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Merrick
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Merrick
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Merrick's Housing Stock?
With 92% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Merrick, the median build year of 1955 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 — the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing — and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.
Over half of homes in Merrick were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Merrick: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Setting Merrick remediation figures against its property market, the resulting ratio sits comfortably in the low tier — a classification that reflects the kind of household financial position where most homeowners can identify documented issues, schedule the work, and absorb the cost without it registering as a significant budget disruption.
Remediation costs in Merrick are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,500–$4,000 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 87% above the New York average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Merrick
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If 92% of the Merrick inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder — and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L — the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Merrick
Because Merrick's NFIP claim count reaches 2052 and 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA-designated flood zones, flood exposure here operates differently than it does in lower-claim communities. In areas with isolated flood events, water-quality infrastructure can typically absorb the stress and recover between events. In communities with repeated high-volume flooding, treatment plants face recurring overload conditions, private wells in FEMA-designated zones accumulate repeated infiltration episodes, and distribution systems experience repeated pressure events that can drive backflow. The claim record for this area points to that second category: a flood environment where water infrastructure stress is periodic and documented, not theoretical.
Merrick has a significant flood history with 2,052 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $40,516 per claim. With 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,400</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Merrick
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Contaminant 1019 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Merrick's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 92% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Merrick, NY