And the state is calling for a major restructuring of Trenton Water Works.

The city owned utility serves drinking water to more than 200,000 people in the capital city and for surrounding suburbs.

A pair of new reports from independent firms commissioned by the state DEP found Trenton Water Works faces deep systemic problems that are holding back the utility from upgrading its treatment system, replacing toxic led service lines and generally providing the best possible customer service.

The DEP has maintained direct oversight of Trenton Water Works since late 2022.

Regulators say they're confident the water is safe to drink, but the utility has been plagued with issues, including heated city council funding, fights over contracts, multiple Legionella outbreaks, a recent scandal over falsified testing records and an ongoing limit use advisory as ice in the Delaware gums up the treatment plant.

That's just to name a few.

DEP warns it can't keep its hands on approach forever, but says the only way to ensure long term stability is by keeping it independent from Trenton and either creating a regional utility or a public private partnership, which the mayor says he supports.

Waterworks doesn't really suffer from a financial problem.

It suffers from a governance problem and operations and maintenance and management problem.

And together, by making sure that every community has a seat at the table and that the water system is led always by studied water sector professionals, free from political interference.

That's the path forward.