New Jersey Lawmakers Move to Improve Trenton’s Water Quality

TRENTON, N.J. — Lawmakers in the state of New Jersey on Wednesday unveiled a new initiative aimed at helping the Trenton Water Works produce safe drinking water that meets all requirements of the state’s Safe Drinking Water Act.

The new initiative comes after months of compliance evaluations that included input from Gov. Phil Murphy.

It is intended to supplement efforts at the local level to improve operating conditions and advance long-overdue capital improvements at the TWW.

For many years the system has continued to struggle in maintaining compliance with regulatory obligations and requirements. 

“Since the outset of my administration, the provision of clean, affordable drinking water and the promotion of healthy communities have remained among our foremost priorities,” said Murphy in a written statement.

“Protecting our children, families, and businesses is a responsibility that all levels of government share, and one that we must leverage every existing partnership to fulfill. Under the leadership of the DEP and in coordination with the City of Trenton, we will work tirelessly to safeguard our residents and return water system quality to the level our communities deserve,” Murphy added.

The TWW draws water from the Delaware River to provide water to more than 200,000 people in Trenton, as well as portions of Ewing, Hamilton, Hopewell and Lawrence. 

The system has intermittently struggled to fully maintain critical treatment processes, monitor water quality, employ adequately trained operating personnel, and invest in required maintenance and capital needs, including significant upgrades to aging infrastructure such as the seven-acre, open-air finished water reservoir that stores and provides already treated water to about 70% of TWW’s distribution system. 

The new initiative has two primary phases that will be pursued concurrently: (1) immediate retention and deployment of a capacity-building force comprised of managerial and technical experts who will focus on improving routine operations and maintenance, as well as immediate capital needs; and (2) a full-scale assessment and preparation of organizational and operational recommendations.

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