Water is coming through a ceiling, floor or wall right now
Emergency dispatch runs around the clock in Piscataway, so call (732) 466-1098 whenever the problem starts. While you wait, turn the main water valve clockwise until it stops, then open one faucet on the lowest floor to drain the pipes.
Flip off the breaker for any room with water coming through the ceiling or pooling on the floor. Never touch a switch, outlet or appliance while you stand in water. If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 first.
- Move rugs, boxes and electronics out of the wet area if it is safe to do so.
- Take a photo of the damage before you clean up, in case you file an insurance claim.
- Keep the water heater off if the leak is near it.
Before we arrive
Close the main valve
In many townhouses and condos it sits near the water meter or where the line enters at the lowest level. Turn it clockwise and tell dispatch if it will not move.
Cut power to wet rooms
Switch off the breaker for any room with a wet ceiling, a soaked wall or a flooded floor. Do not reach into a panel while standing in water.
Clear the area
Lift belongings off the floor, roll up rugs and keep children and pets out. Clear a path to the valve, the water heater and any basement stairs.
Call the 24/7 line
Call (732) 466-1098 and give the street address, the unit number if you rent, and where the water is. For a rental, add the landlord or property manager contact.
Water running and you cannot find the source? Shut the main valve, then call the 24/7 line.
(732) 466-1098Rentals, owners and who calls us
The Census reports that 63.8 percent of Piscataway housing units are owner-occupied (ACS 2020 to 2024), which leaves roughly 36 percent rented. That is a lot of tenants living with a landlord's plumbing. If your water goes out or a pipe bursts in a rental, shut the main valve if you can reach it, then tell the landlord or manager at once.
If you manage the property, give dispatch the unit and a contact who can open the door. A clear call saves time on a leak already running into the unit below.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, ACS 2020 to 2024
Busy households put a strain on water heaters and drains
The average Piscataway household has 2.95 people. More showers, dishwasher cycles and laundry loads mean a water heater that works harder and drains that carry more. A tank that has run daily for years can start to weep at the seams or the drain valve, and a slow tub drain often turns into a full stoppage.
A puddle around the base of the tank usually means the tank itself has failed, and a leak from the tank wall is not repairable. If so, a water heater replacement is the realistic fix, and we can talk through the options on the phone.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, ACS 2020 to 2024
Hard water and what your tap really delivers
Middlesex Water Company's 2025 water quality report lists average hardness of 157 ppm, with a range of 90 to 308 ppm across its system. Hard water leaves scale on heating elements and fixtures. That report does not name Piscataway, and we have not confirmed which utility serves your street, so treat the figure as a regional reference only.
Check your water bill for the supplier's name, ask that utility for its annual water quality report, and test your own tap if scale builds on fixtures.
Source: Middlesex Water Company 2025 Consumer Confidence Report. Piscataway service area not verified.
Leak and pipe problems we are called to find
| What you see | Common cause | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Water meter keeps moving with everything off | Leak on the line between meter and house | Water line repair |
| Stain growing on a ceiling or wall | Pinhole or failed joint in a supply pipe | Leak detection |
| Puddle under the water heater | Failed tank or loose fitting | Shut off water and power, then call |
| Slow drains in several fixtures | Blockage in the main drain | Stop using water and call |
Permits when an emergency turns into a replacement
New Jersey law says plumbing work is to be done by a master plumber or an authorized plumbing contractor. A licensed plumber can pull the permit for you, and the state requires the plumbing license to be shown on the van and the invoice.
The state code alert says replacing a water heater with a new one of like capacity is minor work that needs a permit. Work may begin once notice goes to the local enforcement agency. Swapping a fixture for a similar one with no piping change needs no permit. Ask the Piscataway building department how it handles the notice.
Source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs plumbing board FAQ and NJ DCA code alert, March 2018
Nearby towns we also cover
Our office is at 303 George St in New Brunswick, and we serve New Brunswick and nearby towns, including Edison and Highland Park. Same-day appointments are offered when available for non-urgent work.
Old service lines and the lead replacement law
New Jersey's lead service line law took effect on July 22, 2021, and requires water systems to replace all lead lines by July 2031. The system must replace the full line from the main to the building. Customers are notified by mail until the work is done.
If a notice arrives, keep it and mention it when you call about a leak or low pressure on the incoming line.
New Jersey's lead service line law took effect July 22, 2021, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. It calls for all lead lines to be removed by July 2031, and water systems must replace the full line from main to building inlet, whether the line is owned by the system or the property owner.
Source: NJDEP lead service line replacement law presentation
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Piscataway's street-delivery ZIP is 08854, which covers the homes, apartments and businesses across the township. The other Piscataway ZIP is a PO box code, which is not a place we can send a plumber.
If you are not sure of your ZIP, give dispatch your street address and they will confirm it.
Yes. Our dispatch line at (732) 466-1098 takes calls 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays, for Piscataway addresses.
We do not promise an arrival time. Dispatch will tell you what to do while you wait, and same-day appointments are available when schedules allow.
Shut the main valve if you can, then call your landlord or property manager. You can also call us if the lease lets you, or give dispatch the manager's number so we can coordinate access.
We cannot say for your street. Middlesex Water reports a system-wide average of 157 ppm, but its report does not confirm Piscataway as a service area, and supply sources vary.
Ask your water utility for its annual water quality report, and test your tap.
The state classifies a like-capacity replacement as minor work that needs a permit. The local building department receives the notice. Ask them how Piscataway handles it. A licensed plumber can pull the permit.
Someone should be there to show the plumber the problem and the main valve. If you are away, tell dispatch who can let us in. A landlord or neighbor works.
The price depends on the repair, the parts, access and the hour. We give a clear price before work starts. Call (732) 466-1098 and describe the problem for a real number by phone.
Homeowners policies often cover sudden pipe failure but not wear. Ask your insurer. Photograph the damage and keep the invoice.