Shining a Light on Trenton Water Works
From the Mains of Trenton is a Substack dedicated to uncovering the truth behind one of the most urgent — and underreported — public health crises in New Jersey: the slow-motion collapse of Trenton Water Works.
This is not just a story about rusty pipes or government mismanagement. It's a story about how 200,000 people’s health and safety — across Trenton and surrounding communities — are being put at risk by a failing utility, a paralyzed City Council, and a chronic lack of leadership.
A System in Crisis
Two separate, NJDEP-funded evaluations of TWW have warned of “extremely high risk”, “systemic deficiencies”, and a utility suffering from “historic neglect, underinvestment, and poor management.” The DEP has inspected crumbling infrastructure, uncovered falsified test data, and confirmed TWW’s failure to meet basic operational standards. These are not theoretical risks — they are failures that directly affect the quality of water coming out of your tap.
The City’s Role
As we’ll explore in this series, city leadership — including the Mayor and City Council — has struggled to respond. Political infighting, fearmongering about “taking our greatest asset,” and resistance to even studying reform have all delayed desperately needed change. Meanwhile, state officials are warning that the system may not survive without immediate, structural intervention.
What to Expect from this Substack
This platform will cut through the noise and deliver:
Deep dives into inspection reports, studies, and DEP communications.
Breakdowns of what regionalization means (and doesn’t mean)
Analysis of City Hall’s public statements vs. the facts as told by DEP
Plain-English explanations of the technical issues affecting your water
Ways you can raise your voice to demand accountability
This is complex — but it’s not impossible to understand. And the more people know, the harder it becomes for anyone to look away.
If you're a resident, ratepayer, policymaker, or just someone who believes safe water is a basic right — this Substack is for you.
