Hopewell Township, Mercer County, NJ – Hopewell Township has officially joined Ewing, Hamilton, and Lawrence Townships in legal action by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) against the City of Trenton and Trenton Water Works (TWW). Together, the municipalities are demanding a seat at the table in the governance of the water system that serves thousands of Hopewell Township residents and has been deemed “on the brink of catastrophic failure” by DEP.
“Safe drinking water is not optional,” said Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning. “By joining this lawsuit, we pledge to work with NJDEP and our neighboring municipalities, including Trenton, to ensure that all of our residents have access to clean, safe, and reliable drinking water.”
Protecting Public Health Through Regional Cooperation
More than 225,000 residents depend on Trenton Water Works for potable water and fire protection. Ongoing issues related to aging infrastructure, administrative shortcomings, and repeated violations of existing Administrative Consent Orders have continued to raise concerns about lead service line replacement, water quality, system reliability, and the condition of fire hydrants.
Hopewell Township's Commitment to Accountability and Reform
By joining the lawsuit, Hopewell Township underscores the collective resolve of the region’s suburban municipalities. Residents and businesses alike are entitled to clean water, dependable fire‐safety infrastructure, and responsible use of the substantial customer payments remitted to Trenton Water Works each year.
Next Steps
Hopewell Township’s motion to intervene in the lawsuit has now been granted, and a schedule for the exchange of documents has been set. We will keep our residents updated on developments and will continue to fight to ensure access to safe and reliable drinking water for all Township residents served by TWW.