Trenton Water Works Cleanup Begins, Customers Urged To Conserve

TRENTON, NJ — Trenton Water Works will start a three-week project on Tuesday to clear sediment from a raw water intake channel at its water filtration plant, officials said. The utility says customers shouldn't see any change in their water service.

The project is valued at more than $200,000. It will remove sediment that has built up in the channel untreated water flows through before it reaches filtration and treatment at the plant on Route 29 South, according to TWW.

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The work will be done in 12-hour shifts between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. on nonconsecutive days to limit disruption to normal water treatment, the utility said.

Coastal Engineering, a contractor that specializes in water-related infrastructure and maintenance, won the contract through a competitive public bidding process.

TWW said it does not expect any changes in water quality, pressure or service at customers' taps during the project.

During each 12-hour work period, the Pennington Avenue Reservoir will supply finished drinking water to the system. The reservoir holds nearly a three-day supply, which lets TWW pause normal plant operations as needed to safely clean the channel.

Spacing out the work days also lets the utility keep up with water production and keep enough water in the reservoir, according to TWW.

Even so, customers are being asked to go easy on water use while the work is underway.

"While we do not anticipate any interruption in service, we encourage our customers to use drinking water responsibly throughout the maintenance project," said Michael Walker, TWW's chief of communications and public outreach.

"Simple conservation measures, such as avoiding unnecessary water use, repairing leaks, and being mindful of daily consumption, can help us maintain adequate reserves in the Pennington Avenue Reservoir while this important work is underway," Walker said. "Responsible water use is always good practice, and it is especially helpful when we are maintaining critical infrastructure."

TWW said it will closely monitor reservoir levels, water quality and distribution system conditions throughout the project.

The utility called the cleaning a routine part of its preventive maintenance program. Removing the sediment helps keep the plant's intake running efficiently and protects critical equipment over the long term, TWW said.

Trenton Water Works serves about 217,000 residents in Trenton and parts of Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence and Hopewell townships.

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