Legislative District 15 legislators, Senator Shirley K. Turner and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Assemblyman Anthony S. Verrelli issued the following statement regarding Trenton Water Works:

District 15 legislators, Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, on two separate occasions, the first being August 23rd and the second being September 1^st, met with NJ Department of Environmental Protection officials to find a resolution to the emergent situation at Trenton Water Works. DEP officials informed us of a plan to intervene immediately at TWW to address management failures and public safety risks described in their letter to the Trenton Mayor and City Council on September 27th. We all agreed that a full state takeover was not an option but that administrative oversight was needed and imminent.

The challenges with Trenton Water Works operations are well-known throughout the State and intervention has been necessary long before today to ensure the area’s water system functions at the highest standards for residents’ health and safety. There is no denying that TWW needs intervention through a collaborative partnership with the State.  This intervention has been discussed with many principles – the Department of Environmental Protection and the Dept of Community of Affairs, -for many months and a thoughtful, responsible plan of action was agreed upon in August.  Delays in action are inexcusable. The plan previously developed and agreed upon by the 15th District Legislative Delegation, DEP and DCA will provide administrative support, technical resources and improve the quality of services.

We call upon NJ DEP to immediately provide the administrative services and technical resources needed to help the City of Trenton and TWW improve their quality of service to everyone serviced by Trenton Water Works.

Continued finger-pointing and delay in action on fixing Trenton Water Works is a great disservice to the communities that are a part of the Trenton Water Works service area. Plain and simple, we are facing a serious public health crisis; this is not a time for politics and posturing.

The responsibility to resolve water system operational concerns is not solely a problem that depends on the action of a city council. We must each, local and state officials, do our part, roll up our sleeves, and collaborate to get this done for the families who have dealt with this issue for far too long. Once the immediate crisis has been addressed, policymakers will be in a better position to develop a long-term solution to provide safe, reliable drinking water to more than 200,000 residents throughout the region.