Environmental regulators call for overhaul of Trenton Water Works

The reports outline a number of alternative structures, including operating it as a public utility independent of any municipal government, or as a public-private partnership.

A regional approach to operating the system is also on the table — currently, Trenton Water Works provides water for more than 200,000 people across Trenton, Ewing and parts of Hamilton, Lawrence and Hopewell. LaTourette stressed that privatizing the municipal-owned system is completely out of the question.

“We believe that the system can be restructured successfully, and in doing so, still maintain its publicly owned identity, serve the interests of the city of Trenton, invest in its future and give the service-area communities a seat at the table,” LaTourette said. “Most importantly, that the system can and should be fully modernized and professionalized to ensure the delivery of reliably safe clean drinking water at affordable rates.”

The mayors elected in the towns serviced by Trenton Water Works issued a joint statement in support of an overhaul.

“We, the Mayors of TWW-serviced towns, agree that the status quo is not sustainable, and we believe that creating a new public utility, with governance that allows for greater operational independence and collaboration across municipalities, is a necessary step forward,” said the statement released by Jeff Martin of Hamilton Township, Bert Steinmann of Ewing Township, Patricia Hendricks Farmer of Lawrence Township, Courtney Peters-Manning of Hopewell Township, and W. Reed Gusciora of Trenton.