TWW continued from Page 1 Trenton).” With the TWW subject of numerous news articles and community health concerns over the past several years, Brown-Humphrey understands and points to one of the biggest challenges she has faced in assuming the position almost three years ago. “For so many years, a lot of projects weren’t done here. So we’re playing catch-up now.” Without mentioning names or dates, Brown-Humphrey evokes the era when Mayor Douglas Palmer hoped to sell distribution tanks and pump stations outside of Trenton to American Water Company to provide cash for the city. That talk in turn delayed maintenance, and TWW suffered further under the interest or lack thereof during the subsequent Mack and Jackson administrations — with the former notably criticized for lack of planning and indictments of several employees, including the mayor’s half-brother for misconduct, theft, and bribery. The lack of upkeep, budget restraints, and lack of action by subsequent city councils prolonged the problems until potential water quality problems hit home — or homes. The TWW has 63,000 metered customers. That translates to providing water for approximately 225,000 people in Trenton and portions of Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence, and Hopewell. “What was in the news was the disinfection byproducts,” she says, referring to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s citations
related to state-approved levels of disinfectant and mandatory boil-water advisory, even though the water was safe to drink. Using the example of one potential problem, she says the Water Works realized a potential problem and notified the community. “Usually with a water boil advisory, we send (water) samples out to be tested. It takes 18 to 24 hours to be read. People are alarmed because we have the water advisory on our website, but we can’t lift it until the DEP gets back with us.” In the instance of water having a purplish or pink tinge, she says there was an issue with a chemical used to check a flow-related issue with a pump that had escaped. “It isn’t harmful, but it’s so alarming,” she says. Currently meeting all the standards for the year and “catching up with the new state regulations that change constantly,” Brown-Humphrey says that over the “past three years we’ve had a lot of major projects that have taken place that have been completed. Chlorine content basins were new equipment, and that was essential to the disinfect byproduct (levels of chlorine), and we’ve had our filters replaced, and the booster pump station was upgraded.” She says that the city council and city administration have demonstrated their support of the TWW as an “extremely important” resource for the city and region and supported the above efforts and increased staffing. See TWW, Page 4
LAWRENCE GAZETTE
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Kids still LISTEN to their PARENTS… TAKING AWAY THE KEYS DOESN’T TAKE AWAY THE RISKS…
TAKING AWAY THE KEYS
Over two-thirds of all deaths associated with underage TAKE AWAY THE RISKS… drinking DOESN’T are NOT on the roadways. –CDC
AsOver a parent, youofcannot giveassociated alcohol towith your two-thirds all deaths underag children’s friends under the age of 21 in any drinking are NOT on the roadways. – CDC circumstance, even in your own home, even with theiryou parent’s permission. You also cannot As a parent, cannot give alcohol to your children’s friends under the age in any circumstance, your ownunder home, even their parent’s knowingly alloweven a inperson 21,with other than permis You also cannot knowingly allow a person under 21, other than your own ch your own child, to be in your home or property if to be in your home or property if they are consuming or possess alcoho they The arelegal consuming or in possess alcohol consequences New Jersey are fines The of up legal to $1,000 and daysJersey in jail perare person served consequences in 180 New fines of up to www.mercercouncil.org $1,000 and 180 days in jail per person served
EDUCATE. ENGAGE. EMPOWER.
HELP STOP UNDERAGE DRINKING-
PARENT, NOT JoinBE TheTHEIR Prevention Coalition of THEIR BARTENDER HELP STOP UNDERAGE DRINKINGMercer BE THEIR PARENT, NOTCounty THEIR BARTENDER. EDUCATE. ENGAGE. 2nd Wednesdays of the month,EMPOWER. 9-11AM
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Join The Prevention Coalition of Mercer County 2nd Wednesdays of the month, 9-11AM facebook.com/PCoMC PreventionMercerCnty August 2021 | Lawrence Gazette3
