A burst pipe or flood in North Brunswick tonight
If water is spreading, you want it stopped and a person on the phone. Our dispatch line runs 24 hours a day for North Brunswick. While you wait, close the main water valve, turn off power to any wet room from the panel, and keep everyone out of standing water.
Tell the dispatcher where the water is coming from and whether it is still moving. We offer same-day appointments when available and after-hours dispatch for jobs that cannot wait. We are licensed and insured, and you get a clear price before work starts.
- Gas smell: leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 first, then call us.
- Water near outlets, appliances or the panel: do not touch anything electrical while standing in it.
- Sewage coming up a floor drain: stop using every fixture in the house.
What the township water means for your pipes
The Township of North Brunswick Water Utility serves the town, with Veolia North America operating it under contract. Questions about taste, pressure or water quality go to the township.
The 2022 report lists hardness at 67.5 ppm as calcium carbonate, which is soft to moderately soft, so scale builds slowly in fixtures and water heaters. Its pH of 6.41 sits just under the recommended 6.5 to 8.5. Slightly acidic water can be hard on old copper and galvanized pipe, so watch very old lines for pinhole leaks.
Lead at the tap was low, with none of 31 samples over the 15 ppb action level. That says nothing about your own pipes, so if your home is older, ask what material your service line is made of.
Source: Township of North Brunswick Water Utility, 2022 water quality report (issued June 2023)
Water where it should not be? Call the 24/7 line and tell us what you see.
(732) 466-1098Before We Arrive
Shut off the main valve
Find the main shutoff where the line enters the house and turn it clockwise until it stops. If it will not turn, say so when you call.
Power off wet areas
Switch off breakers for the basement, laundry or kitchen if water is near outlets or appliances. Never touch a switch while standing in water.
Clear the area
Move rugs, boxes and electronics out of the wet zone. In a townhouse or condo, warn the neighbor, since water travels through shared walls.
Call the 24/7 line
Dial (732) 466-1098 with your address and what you have shut off. Stay clear of the wet area until help arrives.
Water lines, supply source and what breaks
The supply comes from the Delaware and Raritan Canal in Franklin Township, which the report says comes primarily from the Delaware River. That surface source is why the water is chlorinated, and tastes can shift with the seasons. A taste change is not a fault, but a pressure drop or a wet patch in the yard is.
If the ground is soggy between the street and the house, or your meter keeps moving with everything off, the leak may be on your side. That is a job for water line repair. Leave the curb valve alone and call the township about anything on its side.
Common emergencies we are called to
| What you see | Common cause | First move |
|---|---|---|
| Water spraying from a pipe | Failed joint, cracked or frozen pipe | Close the main, then call |
| Ceiling stain growing | Supply or drain leak above | Shut the main, catch the drip, call |
| Water heater pooling water | Tank failure or loose fitting | Shut off the heater and its water supply |
| Backup in lowest drain | Blocked main drain line | Stop all water use, call |
A burst line is handled under burst pipe repair, and a leaking tank is covered by water heater repair or replacement when the tank itself has failed.
Storm water and the basement
Next door, Route 18 in New Brunswick was partly under water when the Raritan River overflowed during Tropical Storm Ida in 2021, and basements flooded there too. Storms are a known risk in this part of Middlesex County, so a wet basement after a downpour gets a fast response.
If water rises from a floor drain, assume it is dirty and stay out of it. Do not run the washer or flush. A pump that fails in a storm is covered under sump pump installation and repair.
According to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs plumbing board, state law limits plumbing work to a master plumber or an authorized plumbing contractor. After a flood, that applies to repiping, drain repair and sump connections alike, so ask who is doing the work before you agree to it.
Source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers FAQ, njconsumeraffairs.gov/plu/Pages/FAQ.aspx
What an emergency visit costs
Homeowners policies often cover sudden pipe failure but not wear, so ask your insurer. We can give you a real number by phone once you describe the problem.
Other places we dispatch from here
The same number reaches dispatch if you own property in Edison or East Brunswick. Planned work is listed on our services page.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Dispatch runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including nights, weekends and holidays. Call (732) 466-1098 and describe the problem, and we offer same-day appointments when available.
If the water is still running, shut the main valve while you wait.
North Brunswick's ZIP code is 08902, and that is the one we list for the township. USPS also recognizes the names N Brunswick and New Brunswick for 08902, so a mailing address may read either way. If you are unsure whether your address is in range, call and give us the street.
Yes. The same 24/7 line serves New Brunswick and nearby towns, and a call at night or on a weekend reaches dispatch, not a voicemail box.
Tell us your address, what is leaking and what you have already shut off.
Start with the Township of North Brunswick Water Utility and ask for its annual water quality report, which lists hardness, pH and lead results.
The 2022 report lists hardness at 67.5 ppm, soft to moderately soft, so scale builds slowly. A tank that leaks at the seam has usually reached the end of its life. If yours leaks, shut off its water supply and call.
Yes. Close the main valve clockwise, then open a low faucet to drain the pipes. If the leak is near electrical items, shut off power to that area from the panel.
Yes. You get a clear price before work starts, and we can often give a real number by phone. The location of the leak, the pipe material and the parts needed drive the figure.
It depends on the job. Like-for-like fixture swaps usually need none, but replacing a water heater does under state rules. Ask the township building department about anything else.