Governor Murphy Announces NJDEP To Directly Oversee TWW Operations....and more

By now, most of you know that the State NJ Department of Environmental Protection will have "direct operational" oversight of Trenton Water Works. Governor Murphy issued the following Press Release:

https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562022/approved/20221012b.shtml

From the Press Release, the Governor writes, "Despite many recent efforts at the local level to improve operating conditions and advance long-overdue capital improvements at TWW, the system continues to struggle in maintaining compliance with regulatory obligations and requirements. To ensure that maintenance and operational needs crucial to the protection of public health are met, and that long-overdue capital improvements may receive the benefit of new and considerable state and federal funding, DEP has determined that a capacity-building program with direct operational oversight is necessary to ensure TWW’s near- and long-term success in meeting the needs of the 200,000+ residents served by the system in Trenton, as well as portions of Ewing, Hamilton, Hopewell, and Lawrence."

Though the advocacy to improve TWW has gone on for years, the Township joined other municipalities to intercede and participate in a civil action initiated by the NJDEP (in 2020) against the City of Trenton and TWW in response to sustained poor performance of the water utility. I described the process in a blog article dated July 13, 2020 (which supplemented other articles I wrote about the issue).

https://lawrencetownshipnjmanagerkpn.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-municipalities-file-their-motion-to.html

Since that time and throughout the litigation, the municipalities (its officials and legal counsel) aggressively pursued legal arguments to compel the City of Trenton to properly fund TWW and take the necessary steps to improve the facility and its operations. Though we saw progress, it was always "a step forward and a few steps backward." Seeing the City of Trenton council vote down critical funding for infrastructure improvements to the water utility was frustrating, to say the least. From my vantage point, despite the best efforts and advocacy by Mayor Gusciora, it was clear that the only viable option to properly fund the water utility was either a sale to a well-funded and established water company or a State takeover.  Thankfully, the State took action we needed it to take!

The news that the NJDEP will now have direct oversight over the facility and its operations is, without a doubt - very good news. Having the State take such action will give us all the best chance to remove our (conscious and subconscious) fear of using unsafe water in our daily lives. It will take time to get to this head space....but we are on our way. And this doesn't mean we turn our attention away from this issue. We will continue to advocate for all of the community's residents and visitors using water provided by TWW.