Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning joined other local leaders today in supporting the creation of a new public utility to manage Trenton Water Works (TWW). This effort comes in response to a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) report that highlights critical deficiencies in TWW’s operations and recommends establishing an independent governance structure to modernize the water system.
Aging Infrastructure and Operational Challenges
Trenton Water Works, one of the oldest publicly owned water systems in the country, serves five municipalities: Trenton, Hamilton Township, Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, and Hopewell Township. While TWW has a capacity of 60 million gallons of water per day, its infrastructure — such as its water filtration plant, which is over 50 years old — requires costly upgrades to meet modern standards.
For years, operational issues have plagued the system, which also supplies water to Aqua New Jersey through an interconnection. The DEP report emphasized that without significant changes, TWW will struggle to ensure the long-term sustainability of its system and compliance with safe drinking water standards.
Governance Gaps and Regional Disconnect
A central issue raised by the DEP is TWW’s governance structure. Although 55% of TWW’s customers reside outside Trenton, the municipalities it serves — Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence, and Hopewell—have no formal say in its management or operations.
“This disconnect between the service area’s needs and TWW management underscores the necessity of a new governance model,” the DEP report states. The independent assessments procured by the DEP confirmed that the current arrangement is unsustainable and recommended creating a new public utility that is free from political interference and capable of operating more efficiently.
Collaborative Leadership from Local Mayors
In addition to Mayor Peters-Manning, the mayors of Hamilton Township (Jeff Martin), Ewing Township (Bert Steinmann), Lawrence Township (Patricia Hendricks Farmer), and Trenton (W. Reed Gusciora) have committed to working together on this initiative.
“We, the Mayors of TWW-serviced towns, agree that the status quo is not sustainable,” they said in a joint statement. “Creating a new public utility, with governance that allows for greater operational independence and collaboration across municipalities, is a necessary step forward.”
Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning also highlighted her township’s long-standing push for change:
“Since 2022, the Hopewell Township Committee and I have been advocating for change at Trenton Water Works. This latest DEP report unsurprisingly lays out disturbing failures and challenges at the utility. However, the solutions offered in the report give me hope that real change is now possible. A new public utility has the potential to truly solve the ongoing problems at TWW, and it will give Hopewell Township a voice to represent our residents served by the utility. I look forward to continuing to work with the other service-area Mayors, and the Mayor of Trenton, to tackle this restructuring to best serve all customers of TWW. Our joint statement today that the status quo is unsustainable is a hugely significant step forward, and I believe that the ultimate outcome will best serve all TWW customers.”
Priorities for the New Public Utility
To ensure transparency and public confidence, the mayors outlined several priorities for establishing the new public utility:
- Appraisal of the process: Conducting a full and transparent evaluation of what it will take to create the new entity.
- Compensation for Trenton: Determining fair payment to the City of Trenton for the transfer of TWW assets.
- Impact on ratepayers: Assessing how the changes will affect rates and fees for residents.
- Public education: Launching a campaign to inform residents about necessary capital improvements, such as upgrades to the water filtration plant and distribution system, as well as the creation of new, competitively paid positions to attract and retain skilled professionals.
Restoring Public Confidence
The DEP and local leaders agree that creating an independent public utility is the best path forward to modernize the system, address aging infrastructure, and restore public confidence in TWW’s ability to provide safe and reliable water service.
Mayor Peters-Manning and the other local leaders are committed to accelerating these efforts in the months ahead. “Our residents deserve a water system that works efficiently, sustainably, and in their best interest,” the mayors stated.
More TWW MercerMe Coverage
- After Trenton Water Works’ Falsified Reports, Township Renews Call For NJDEP Takeover
- Hopewell Township Customers not impacted by Legionnaires’ Disease found at Trenton Water Works
- Hopewell Township Statement on Trenton Water Works
- Mercer County officials call on State for major shakeup of Trenton Water Works
