The water is safe to drink for Hopewell Township residents whose water is supplied by the Trenton Water Works.
That is the message from the Hopewell Township Department of Health based on water samples taken from numerous locations in the Trenton Water Works service area in the township.
An independent consultant tested the water at six sites in the Trenton Water Works service area at the request of Township Committee. The tests were requested as a precautionary measure after receiving several notifications from the water utility regarding water quality.
The six sites tested by Eurofins QC, LLC, were the Mercer County Vocational School – Sypek Center on Bull Run Road; the Brandon Farms clubhouse on Pebble Creek Court; the Stony Brook Elementary School on Stephenson Road; the Stop and Shop grocery store on Denow Road; Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell on Scotch Road; and Janssen Pharmaceutica on Trenton-Harbourton Road.
The test results showed the levels of bacteria, copper, lead and pH were within acceptable ranges. However, some disinfectant residual was found to be high in three of the six areas that were tested – the Stop and Shop grocery store, the Stony Brook Elementary School and Janssen Pharmaceutica.
Treatment for the disinfectant residual can be achieved with activated carbon. The filters built into refrigerators, Britta type filters or larger whole-home style carbon tanks all would work – all inexpensive options to reduce exposure for those who want to do so, township officials said.
While one set of elevated testing results does not necessarily indicate a larger problem, it does suggest the local water should be tested on a regular basis while the Trenton Water Works improves its water quality, township officials said.
As a result of the recent water tests, Hopewell Township will continue to petition the water utility and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to make improvements to the Trenton Water Works plant, reduce disinfectant residuals and take samples for the disinfectant residuals in Hopewell Township.
Township Committee members passed a resolution in January that called on Trenton and the DEP to take steps to ensure the drinking water is safe.
Trenton officials and the DEP reached an agreement in February which detailed a series of steps to address infrastructure, staffing, operational and public notification needs.
An administrative consent order called for filling vacant staff positions, along with measures to minimize water treatment plant disruptions at the Delaware River intake from low water conditions, debris, aquatic vegetation and ice.