Hopewell Township has joined Ewing, Hamilton, and Lawrence in legal action brought by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection against the City of Trenton and Trenton Water Works, seeking a role in governing a water system state officials say is “on the brink of catastrophic failure.”

“Safe drinking water is not optional,” Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning said in a statement. “By joining this lawsuit, we pledge to work with NJDEP and our neighboring municipalities, including Trenton, to ensure that all of our residents have access to clean, safe, and reliable drinking water.”

More than 225,000 residents rely on Trenton Water Works for drinking water and fire protection. Persistent issues tied to aging infrastructure, administrative problems, and repeated violations of Administrative Consent Orders have raised concerns about lead service line replacement, water quality, system reliability, and the condition of fire hydrants.

Township officials said joining the lawsuit reflects the shared commitment of the region’s suburban municipalities to hold the utility accountable. They emphasized that residents and businesses are entitled to safe water, dependable fire-safety infrastructure, and responsible use of the substantial customer payments made to TWW each year.

Hopewell Township’s motion to intervene has been granted, and a schedule for exchanging documents has been set. Officials said they will continue to update residents as the case proceeds.