Thousands of lead pipes tainting N.J. water will be replaced

Trenton Water Works employees dig up and replace lead piping after a press event marking the start of the water system’s lead service line replacement program in Trenton, January, 9, 2020 Photo: Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media

New Jersey’s capital city is launching a major effort to get the lead out.

City officials gathered in West Trenton’s Berkeley Square neighborhood Thursday to kick off the major project — even though they have yet to secure all of the funding to make it happen.

Trenton Water Works — a 200-year-old utility that is owned and operated by the city and serves 217,000 customers in Trenton, Hamilton, Lawrence, Ewing and Hopewell Township — plans to spend $150 million over the next five years to replace more than 36,000 lead service lines in the water system.

Replacement work will start in Hamilton and Lawrence this month, TWW spokesman Mike Walker said, followed by Trenton and Ewing in February. No work will be done in Hopewell Township because there are no lead service lines serving properties in the town.

“Our deep commitment to protecting our customers and service-area consumers from lead in drinking water is genuine and comprehensive,” Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said.

“Our plan is to remove all lead services from TWW’s system within five years, in addition to making significant upgrades to TWW’s water-filtration plant, water-distribution system and facilities.” The lead […]

Full article: Thousands of lead pipes tainting N.J. water will be replaced