WATER WORK
City officials meet with experts to try to address plethora of problems at Trenton Water Works >>
TRENTON » Mayor Reed Gusciora traveled to Washington D.C. to consult national water quality experts and take part in a conference call with the mayor of Flint Michigan, the epicenter of one of the nation’s worst water crises, all aimed at improving troubled Trenton Water Works.
Gusciora was among a convoy of Trenton officials that included council president Kathy McBride and Dr. Shing-Fu Hsueh, the new leader of the city’s water utility, who took part in the Wednesday meetings at the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Ex-Mayor Doug Palmer, who developed connections in the water industry during his time in office, helped broker the brainstorming powwow to try to move forward TWW, which is under a consent order with the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Gusciora called the meetings productive as he attempts to fulfill the promise he made to Trentonians when he was sworn into office that the city’s water utility would not be privatized.
“The public does not want this swept under the rug,” Gusciora said.
Gusciora inherited an understaffed water utility from former Mayor Jackson’s administration, which was hammered with almost two dozen water violations from DEP since he took office in 2014.
The city’s relationship with DEP grew strained and contentious as Jackson and the ex-commish Bob Martin traded salvos in a series of strongly worded letters. In one of the exchanges, Martin accused the city of risking the health and safety of the Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and City Council President Kathy McBride met with officials in Washington D.C. to discuss water quality issues.
225,000 customers who drink and use the water.
Trenton also dealt with lead issues with one report suggesting some Trenton students had higher levels of lead in their blood than students in Flint, Michigan, which has endured one of the worst and most visible public health scares in recent years.
Gusciora and Trenton officials said they benefitted from speaking with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver on a conference call about the difficulties officials have had dealing with the aftermath of the crisis over costcutting efforts that resulted in tainted drinking water.
One of the biggest issues has been restoring public trust.
Gusciora acknowledge similarities between the water issues in Trenton and Flint but felt the capital city wasn’t on the verge of crisis.
City officials have repeatedly assured customers the water in Trenton is safe to use and consume and the
dangerous levels of lead in the water Flint were not present in the capital city.
A 2014 report from the New Jersey Department of Health found Trenton and 12 other municipalities in the state had a higher percentage of children under the age of six with elevated blood lead levels than children in Flint.
The data showed 214 out of the 3,421 Trenton children examined, or 6.3 percent, tested with blood lead levels at or greater than 5 mg/dL, compared with 112 Flint children out of the 3,339 tested in 2015 who had blood levels in that same range.
Palmer, who was behind a failed proposal to sell a majority of the city’s water assets to New Jersey American Water, credited the new mayor with “taking the bull by the horns” in attempting to solve Trenton’s water woes.
Palmer said he has always been in favor of Trenton maintaining control of the water utility, and his
plan back then to sell a network of pipes in surrounding suburbs was presented to by “misinformed” critics as the capital city ceding control of TWW.
“Our situation is not like Flint,” Palmer said. “The biggest problem is you have deteriorating infrastructure. The water in Trenton is good.”
The city has been on a short leash with DEP, which as part of the consent order imposed a deadline of June 29 for the city to address certain issues regarding the water utility’s infrastructure, staffing and operations.
Gusciora met with DEP leaders last week to get an update on the city’s progress meeting a list of roughly 20 outlined goals.
DEP spokesman Larry Hajna said in an email TWW “submitted all items required” of it by the deadline and the state agency is reviewing them.
The DEP wants the city to sign an updated consent order, Mayoral Candidate Reed Gusciora speaks during Sunday’s Trentonian debate at Mercer County Community College. Gusciora said, to ensure continued cooperation and compliance. He expressed a willingness to do so as he attempts to relax the sometimes-strained relationship under the previous administration.
TWW became a political punching bag with leaders in surrounding areas complaining about the lack of information – and quality water – flowing out of the city as Trenton officials worried about a possible state takeover of TWW following repeated violations that shook public trust.
The city poured millions of dollars into contracts with
outside engineering firms brought in to stabilize the water utility and address the problems. Engineering firm Mott MacDonald has been providing DEP with monthly progress reports as part of the Administrative Consent Order.
Gusicora also brought aboard Hsueh, ex-West Windsor mayor and retired water quality expert at the Department of Environmental Protection, and tasked him with “shepherding [TWW] to selfreliance.”
Gusciora has tried to avail himself more to some of the suburban mayors who raised the biggest stink about TWW.
Gusciora said he’s been contacted by Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede about setting up additional public information sessions.
About her relationship with the new mayor, Yaede said she was looking “forward a fruitful conversation and working with the new Mayor to benefit the residents of the Township of Hamilton.”
To that end, Palmer said the U.S Conference of Mayors can be a valuable resource to Gusciora just like it has been for Weaver in Flint.
“Help is on the way,” Palmer said.