NOVEMBER 2022 FREE
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Enough is enough DEP taking oversight role at Trenton Water Works after one too many issues BY BILL SANSERVINO Enough is finally enough with Trenton Water Works. The state Department of Environmental Protection is intervening in the daily operations of TWW, which has failed to address numerous problems in the provision of safe drinking water for many years. The utility, which is owned and run by the city of Trenton, supplies approximately 29 million gallons of drinking water every day to more than 200,000 people—including all of Trenton and Ewing, and parts of Hamilton, Hopewell and Lawrence townships. In 2020, the state attorney general and DEP filed a lawsuit against TWW—which was joined the municipalities served by the water utility—seeking to compel the City of Trenton and the water utility to take the necessary actions after failing to comply with Administrative Consent Orders to provide safe drinking water. The takeover in TWW operations follows a months-long investigation by the DEP of conditions
affecting the utility that concluded that it continues to struggle to meet water safety regulations. The DEP takeover also comes amidst reports that Legionella— the bacteria that causes the sometimes-deadly Legionnaires’ disease—has been detected in the water systems of homes throughout TWW’s service area (see page 9). In an announcement on Oct. 12, the governor’s office said that the state “will work with the city to enhance TWW’s technical and managerial capacity.” The goal is to improve the operations and maintenance of the utility. “Since the outset of my administration, the provision of clean, affordable drinking water and the promotion of healthy communities have remained among our foremost priorities,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Under the leadership of the DEP and in coordination with the City of Trenton, we will work tirelessly to safeguard our residents and return water system quality to the level our communities deserve.” DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said that the state needs to invest more time, attention and resources in struggling utilities like TWW. He added that the state will provide direct operational oversight to help TWW build the capacity necessary to better serve the public. See WATER, Page 8
Hopewell Valley quarterback Tim McKeown, right, gets instructions from quarterbacks coach EJ Nemeth during a 53-21 home win over Notre Dame on Oct. 21, 2022. (Photo by Mike Schwartz/mikeschwartz.photo.)
QB McKeown helps lead HoVal football to 8-0 start BY RICH FISHER It was Oct. 22, 2020; a Thursday night. And Hopewell Valley Central High sophomore Tim McKeown couldn’t fall asleep. The Bulldogs starting quarterback, CJ Szafranski, had been injured the previous week, and McKeown was about to get his first varsity start on Friday against
Steinert. “I grew up watching Hopewell Valley High School football, and I had the nerves, like, ‘My God, my time has finally come,’” McKeown said. “I remember laying in bed that night before the Steinert game, thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m about to go play my first varsity game for the team I’ve been watching the last 10, 11 years.’”
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Unfortunately for Hopewell, it wasn’t a fairy tale story where the lifelong fan guides the hometown team to victory. McKeown wasn’t terrible: he completed 10 of 19 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. But Hopewell lost 31-18. In fact, the Bulldogs dropped all four games that McKeown See McKEOWN, Page 10
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