In a formal letter sent Friday, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora responded to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) warning about the state of Trenton Water Works (TWW), defending the city’s efforts to improve the water utility and urging the state to pursue collaboration—not coercion—as stakeholders weigh the future of the regional water system.
The letter, dated August 1, pushes back on NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette’s July 29 demand that the City commit to a regionalization study by August 8, a process the state and surrounding towns say is necessary to prevent potential failure at TWW.
“We remain committed to improving water delivery and public trust. But Trenton deserves partnership, not coercion,” Gusciora wrote. “Any restructuring must be the product of careful study, not political expediency.”
Gusciora reiterated his support for studying regionalization but said the city will not cede control of its water system without a public process and full consideration of TWW’s value.
Mayor Highlights Progress, $80M in Capital Work
In his response, Gusciora included a list of more than two dozen infrastructure and operational projects undertaken by TWW since 2024, totaling more than $80 million. Among the highlights:
- A $20 million meter replacement program (60% completed)
- Leak detection and valve replacement initiatives
- Lead service line replacement projects across three phases
- Upgrades to tanks in Mercerville, Lawrenceville, and Olden Avenue
- Electrical and software improvements
- Roof and HVAC repairs at the filtration plant
Gusciora also noted pending legislation before City Council aimed at expanding hiring eligibility by removing local residency requirements and implementing service fees to support long-term cost recovery.
“These accomplishments represent real progress and should be recognized as part of any honest assessment,” the letter states.
The full project list is appended to the mayor’s letter as part of the official record.
NJDEP: System Still “On the Brink of Catastrophic Failure”
In its July 29 letter, NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette described Trenton Water Works as being in a state of chronic crisis, citing deteriorating infrastructure, poor management, and systemic risks that could leave more than 200,000 customers—including parts of Hamilton, Ewing, Hopewell, and Lawrence—without clean or reliable drinking water.
The letter identified four critical “single points of failure” that, if compromised, could result in a total system shutdown or public health emergency:
- Leaking roof and failing HVAC at the water treatment plant, which promotes corrosion and unsafe working conditions.
- Filtration plant intake, currently operating at just 50% capacity.
- Aging and unreliable electrical system, in need of significant repairs.
- Central pump station, with no backup and in need of full replacement.
During an unannounced June 2025 site visit, LaTourette and NJDEP staff observed corroded, broken, and jury-rigged equipment, electrical cords submerged in standing water, and absenteeism among staff, reinforcing the agency’s conclusion that the utility remains in a fragile, unstable state.
“That the system is at high risk of systemic failure is as obvious as it is alarming,” LaTourette wrote. “The status quo is dangerously unacceptable.”
NJDEP has provided direct operational oversight since 2022 but announced it will begin scaling back technical supportand shifting to a stronger enforcement and capital planning role. The agency has warned that the city must lead any permanent solution and that state-provided support is temporary.
Hamilton Mayor: “The Hole Is Too Big for One Entity”
Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin, who has been vocal in his support for regionalization, said Gusciora’s letter fails to acknowledge the broader picture. In an interview, Martin said the city’s improvements are important but insufficient.
“I don’t want to downplay the improvements that have already been done,” Martin said. “But the hole is too big for one entity to dig out of on its own.”
Martin also took issue with Gusciora’s framing of the regionalization process, calling it “disingenuous at best.”
“All the mayors and both state commissioners met in July and agreed on a path forward that includes public outreach, transparency, and a commitment to studying governance and compensation,” Martin said. “To suggest otherwise now is just not accurate.”
Martin said he remains hopeful that Trenton’s City Council will move forward with the study.
What’s Next: Council to Hear from NJDEP on August 7
The matter is confirmed for public discussion at Trenton City Council’s meeting on Wednesday, August 7, where NJDEP officials will formally present during the “Discussion/Presentations” portion of the agenda. A budget hearing will follow.
NJDEP has not released any further comment beyond the July 29 letter, which remains the department’s official position. That letter cited dangerous infrastructure conditions at TWW and said the system remains “on the brink of catastrophic failure.”
“We want a transparent process that solves this issue once and for all—and ensures nothing is taken from the city without a full understanding and fair compensation, ”Martin said. “We’re all saying the same thing. It’s time to start talking with each other, not at each other.”
