Brown Water Not Caused by New Hot Water Heaters

Landlord of Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town applied for MCI rent increases based on the installation of new hot water heaters. The DRA ruled for landlord, and tenants appealed. Tenants' association claimed that the hot water was brown and that the DRA had ignored their complaint about this in response to landlord's MCI application. The DHCR ruled against tenants. The brown water, and particles found in the water, weren't related to the workmanship of the MCI. Tenants' own expert's report states that the brown water and particles were caused by manganese, iron, copper, and zinc, which reacted with chlorine when heated. Plumbing system corrosion may have caused the presence of the copper and zinc. These problems weren't caused by landlord, but were part of a general problem in New York City's water supply.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. Nos. HC 410022-RO, HB 410204-RT, HC 410224-RT, HD 410116-RT (2/4/94) [7-page document]