Statement from Mayor W. Reed Gusciora on Trenton Water Works 

Trenton, N.J. –  In the fall of 2023, Trenton Water Works (TWW) discovered that a water sample collector—one of three employees responsible for this task in our service area—was falsifying drinking water data. This individual’s actions were a clear violation of public trust and are deeply disturbing. TWW immediately notified the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), referred the matter to law enforcement, and initiated the process to terminate this employee. To ensure that acts like these do not reoccur, we have also taken decisive steps to strengthen oversight of our water sample collection process. This includes installing GPS tracking devices on fleet vehicles, pairing employees with supervisors, requiring photo documentation of sample sites, utilizing tablets with specialized software, and providing additional training.

This individual’s actions do not reflect the integrity of the 115+ dedicated employees at TWW, who work tirelessly to provide safe and reliable drinking water to our customers. TWW’s water quality testing is comprehensive and adheres to federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulations. While NJDEP invalidated a portion of the data collected over a 13-month period, I want to assure the public that at no point was the water provided to consumers unsafe to drink. TWW has other valid data points to confirm water quality, and we remain fully compliant with SDWA regulations, as confirmed by NJDEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

It is also important to note that TWW’s water is tested hourly in our laboratory at the water filtration plant on Route 29 South. In accordance with NJDEP guidelines, we promptly notified the public of the violation and have communicated updates using language developed by NJDEP.

Trenton Water Works has been serving the community for over 160 years, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of water quality and public trust. Our system is engineered to meet rigorous SDWA regulations and supported by robust operational procedures to ensure safe, reliable water delivery.

While the actions of this dishonest employee were a grave betrayal of that trust, we are dedicated to transparency in our operations and communications. We will continue to work with state regulators to educate our customers about the measures we have taken and will continue to take to guarantee the safety and quality of our drinking water.

The health and safety of our consumers is, and always will be, TWW’s highest priority.