Health Violations Found NY 6 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick

EPA ID: NY2902840 · 135,000 people served · 14 ZIP codes

Per EPA records, Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick: 4 unresolved violations, 135,000 people in service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 61
Avg Safety Score
135,000
People Served
14
ZIP Codes Served
13
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.01175 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
5
Contaminants Flagged
$623K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 17 (2023) to 34 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$157,404
Median Household Income
401,227
Service Area Population
11%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
92%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick serves a community with a median household income of $157,404 and an estimated 401,227 residents across its service area. Approximately 92% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
90th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Nassau County, New York rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 90th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

69 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
3 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 96% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Contaminant 1019 at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 2040 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 2099 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 11 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.01 ppt, PFOS: 0.01 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New York

C 14 violations
C 10 violations
B 0 violations
B 8 violations
Albany City
98,000 people
F 23 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,346
Radon Mitigation $185
Water Filtration $185
PFAS Treatment $169
Total Estimated Cost $1,885

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Property Value Decline $31,150

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$20,740
10 years
$41,480
20 years
$82,960

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,885 (one-time) vs. $41,480 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick (EPA ID: NY2902840) is a community water system in New York that serves approximately 135,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 14 ZIP codes across 11 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (61/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

6 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 4 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Contaminant 1019 Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Contaminant 1019 Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Health-based Unresolved
October 1, 2023 Contaminant 2040 Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Contaminant 1019 Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Stage 1 DBP Rule Health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Contaminant 1019 Other Violation 6 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 6 Yes
Contaminant 2040 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2099 Other Violation 1 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
11710 0.01175 mg/L No N/A
11566 0.0042 mg/L No N/A
11551 0.0014 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 10 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 4 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick (NY2902840) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick water safe to drink?

Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick has recorded 6 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick serve?

Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick serves approximately 135,000 people across 14 ZIP codes in New York.

Where does Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
344

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

32
Confirmed Lead
16
Galvanized — Replacement Required
253
Unknown Material
45,698
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 135,000
Reported to New York

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick safe to drink?
Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick has a C safety grade based on 13 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick's water?
Detected contaminants include Contaminant 1019, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Contaminant 2040, Contaminant 2099. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick serve?
Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick serves approximately 135,000 people with drinking water across 14 ZIP codes.
What is Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick's water source?
Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.01175 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick's service area?
The Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick service area has a median household income of $157,404. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick get its water?
Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick (EPA ID: NY2902840) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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