Trenton Water Works says an inspector falsified water quality reports for 5 towns

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Drinking water in New Jersey’s capital city, Trenton, and parts of four surrounding communities was not properly tested for 14 months.

Last week, Trenton Water Works mailed a letter to its 200,000 customers in Trenton and parts of Ewing, Hamilton, Hopewell and Lawrence townships saying that one of their inspectors falsified water quality reports between October 2022 and December 2023.

Michael Walker, a spokesman for the utility, said while certain tests were not performed, there are safeguards in place.

“We do test water in our laboratory at our water filtration plant hourly, there are other tests that go on in the field,” he said.

He said a total of three TWW employees conduct water quality samples in the field, and only one of them submitted fake reports. The unnamed individual was put on leave and then fired.

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora described the inspector, who submitted false reports, as a “rogue employee” and called the situation “outrageous.” He said steps have been taken to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

“We’ve instituted some safeguards, including GPS tracking devices on fleet vehicles, we’re pairing employees with supervisors, we’re requiring photo documentation of sample sights,” he said.

He said many of the water samples taken by TWW during the period in question were considered incomplete and deemed invalid by the Department of Environmental Protection.

“It is unfortunate that this happened, it’s inexcusable, but we are following safe drinking water regulations,” Gusciora said.

Walker said the Department of Environmental Protection could fine Trenton Water Works more than $200,000, but such fines against water systems by the DEP are not anything new.

“It is certainly not a unique situation for Trenton Water Works, and we will challenge the fine through an administrative process,” he said.

Walker said Trenton Water Works is committed to providing excellent service.

“Water quality is very high right now, the water utility is compliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the water is quite drinkable,” he said.

Walker said the public should remember only one bad employee was involved in this incident.

“We took action against that employee, we informed regulators, we strengthened our oversight of our water sample collectors,” he said.

Gusciora said the DEP has done an investigation and referred the case to the state Attorney General’s Office to pursue criminal charges.