WILLIAMSBURG — Brown water gushed from sinks and bathtubs in buildings along the waterfront for several hours Tuesday afternoon after a pipe at the Domino Sugar Factory burst, according to the city and local residents.
There is a broken pipe within Old Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Property owner making repairs now: https://t.co/9yV1DoIfnH
— NYC Water (@NYCWater) January 31, 2017
"It's practically sand," said David Ocaña, head of the tenant association at two buildings on North Sixth Street, who first spotted the discolored water at noon and said his taps were clear by around 1 a.m. Wednesday.
The City's Department of Environmental Protection said the water wasn't harmful but that residents should avoid drinking it.
This work could cause residents to see discolored water at the tap. While not harmful, residents shouldn't drink obviously discolored water.
— NYC Water (@NYCWater) January 31, 2017
Councilman Stephen Levin's chief of staff, Jonathan Boucher, who spoke with the city's Department of Environmental Protection, said the pipe had been repaired by 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and anyone who still sees discoloration should run the water to see if it clears. If that doesn't work, residents should report it to 311, he added.
DEP crews are on site opening fire hydrants to flush discolored water from the system
— NYC Water (@NYCWater) January 31, 2017
A spokeswoman for Two Trees Management, the developer behind the mega-project at the former refinery site, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
