Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) today urged Trenton Water Works to pursue a newly announced U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding source of over $700,000 to assist with improving drinking water in New Jersey.

“I strongly encourage Trenton Water Works to seek this funding in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP),” Smith said. “I will continue to ask the EPA to give all possible consideration to assisting TWW and its customers who are in need of this aid. I have contacted EPA Regional Director Peter Lopez to this end, as well as city and state authorities, and I will continue to assist Mayor Gusciora with other avenues of federal funding.”

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the grants this week. States are eligible to receive funding from the EPA drinking water grant program’s Assistance for Small and Disadvantaged Communities Drinking Water Grant, established by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN)—which Smith supported. Program participants will be asked to submit workplans to the EPA outlining their proposed projects for approval and funding; applicants will apply through their state to seek the funding.

Additionally, Smith said the EPA plans to announce funding details for another newly-created WINN grant program dedicated to reducing lead in drinking water systems, this summer.

“We must continue to explore any and all possible areas of funding for TWW,” Smith said. “All residents deserve safe, clean drinking water, including children who are especially vulnerable to negative effects from lead exposure. Federal, state, and local governments must work together to ensure clean water for the people in TWW’s service area.”

The City of Trenton’s water department and its utility TWW serve the city, but also much of the neighboring town of Hamilton in Smith’s district, plus Ewing, Lawrence and Hopewell. Residents of all the towns served by TWW are eligible for TWW’s discounted program to replace their lead service lines at a subsidized cost of $1,000, and about 2,600 homes are slated for upgrades from September 2018 through mid-2020. To find out more about this program, visit www.twwleadprogram.com. TWW’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program hotline is (609) 989-3600.

Smith has met with EPA Regional Administrator Lopez and NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe earlier this year in support of federal funding to upgrade TWW. Last fall Smith and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) met with Mayor Gusciora and TWW officials, toured their filtration plant and other facilities, and was briefed on their plan of action. In Washington, Smit met with federal funding experts at the Congressional Research Service regarding opportunities for TWW and its client communities to effectuate meaningful lead abatement opportunities, including the grants announced on Tuesday.

In December, EPA announced its new Federal Lead Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts (Lead Action Plan), and is expected to release details this spring.