Five Towns residents seek answers over brown water

You expect a straightforward answer when you ask questions such as what color is the sky or water. However, if you were to ask Woodmere resident Barrie Brownstein Cota what color her water is at home, she’d say clear on a good day but on any other, she’d tell you it’s brownish.

Brownstein Cota filled a pot with water on March 30 only to see that water wasn’t coming out clear but a color that resembled the color of beer.

Brownstein Cota let the water run for 15 minutes. It remained brown.

She addressed her issue on a local Facebook group page, which highlighted other members having similar experiences.

“It was so bad that day,” she said. “That I had to post it on Facebook.”

She said her water provider, Liberty Water, informs neighbors when working in the area and when not to use the water. Brownstein Cota said the last time the water color was off, they had not informed her.

“It is always an issue here,” she said. “There are times when the water is off-color and it’s usually when they flush out the main pipes in the town. Normally we are told when that is done, but no phone call, no message when I was cleaning the dishes.”

Hewlett resident Amanda Leanna, has battled the same issue for the past six years.

“When this issue occurs, we have had no choice but to shower in this water,” she said. “(We) only drink bottled water.”

Leanna’s water provider is also Liberty Water.

“I contacted Liberty several times because the water is consistently brown or yellowish,” she said. “(We) tell them know how bad it is staining our sinks and bathtubs.” 

Neighbors of Brownstein Cota have said they plan to install a house filtration system to help with the issue. But she thinks otherwise.

“I just feel like where we live and the taxes we pay it really shouldn’t be necessary,” she said. “I shower with it, I wash my dishes with it and my laundry is washed with it. I have no clue if I turn my machine on if it’s clear or not.”

Liberty Water spokeswoman Pamela Bellings noted what the water provider is doing to make improvements.

“Customers may notice occasional discolored water in the spring as water use increases,” she wrote in an email. “Our spring flushing program, which is currently in progress, is designed to remedy this issue. Additionally, each year, we invest in upgrading water mains and iron removal technology, which also decreases discolored water. We replaced over 26,000 feet of water main in the Lynbrook territory, which serves Woodmere, in 2022 and we plan to replace another 18,000 feet in 2023.”

Bellings added that discolored water is not harmful and comes from iron sediment in the water mains.

“We recognize that this aesthetic is not pleasing to customers,” she said. “And is exactly why we have our extensive flushing program and main replacement projects.”

Having issues with your water? Send letter to jbessen@liherald.com.