Within the past few years, there has been an underlying crisis within the Trenton community and the surrounding areas. Even up to today, this issue has even crept into the TCNJ community, whether it be some sort of toxin or chemical in the water. What is worse, is that it puts your life; your family; friends and relatives at risks for all types of diseases, disorders and even the possibility of death.

While the Flint-like crisis is at a warning point in Trenton, the problem has spread into the surrounding areas, especially in The College of New Jersey area, and in the state of New Jersey as a whole. In an article from The Trentonian about the Water quality in Trenton in 2016, Trenton’s water works Department assured residents that the water quality was “better than Flint’s.”

However, as of last year up until the current present, reports from several news outlets show that the water wasn’t just not safe, it was downright dangerous. In October, A 6abc report showed that the level of Lead in the blood of children in Trenton was revealed to be higher than those in flint. The next day, a News 12 NJ report revealed the main cause of the high lead levels, stemming from poorly-kept and maintained pipe systems in Schools and other public buildings, especiall public sewer systems.

Other issues that were found in the water supply, not just in Trenton but elsewhere, were the following:

• Chromium-6 (A Cancer-causing metal)
• “Teflon Chemicals” (Chemicals used in Carpeting, Furniture, dyes, etc.)
• PFOS/PFOA Chemicals (Found in Firefighting Foam and other products)

And many other chemicals found in the public supply, especially the Delaware river and streams from the Delaware.

“These reports frighten me, like most everyone else.” Professor Lauren Madden, the Coordinator for the Environmental Sustainability Education Minor said in an email interview.

While Professor Madden expressed concern with these reports, she did express concern as well as the release and handling of these reports to residence of Trenton, “Sometimes headlines seem scarier than the facts and vice versa, so it is very important to be good consumers of information when evaluating claims made in these reports.”

While the area of Trenton and cities surrounding deal with the issue of Water quality, some groups within Trenton, as well as some TCNJ students, have begun to take action to curb the epidemic.

“My goal, in preparing future teachers (and in my work with current teachers) is to help them to encourage their students to be good consumers of information, problem-solvers, systems thinkers, and advocates for a safe and healthy world. These ideas aren’t scientific alone and the focus of our work in the ESE minor courses and with practicing teachers is to encourage critical thinking and problem solving across the curriculum to help students develop solutions for the many environmental problems we face locally and globally.” Professor Madden said.

Another water advocacy group, The Delaware Riverkeeper Network, sent an email to members with a link to a “Senate Recess Lobbying Event” that calls on its members and those concerned.

The message says the following:

“Plan a meeting with your Senators in their district offices to ask:
–> FERC approved pipelines are damaging communities and devastating environments.
–> FERC is so biased that its approval of pipelines is a foregone conclusion.
–> FERC is abusing communities — stripping them of their legal rights and undermining the authority of state protections.
–> Be a champion to demand that Congress hold hearings to learn the many ways communities are being harmed by FERC abuse of the law and its power.
–> Take swift affirmative action to reform the Natural Gas Act so as to better protect communities including eliminating the threats associated with natural gas infrastructure.
–> Oppose restoration of a quorum at FERC until such time as these two actions have been complete.”

The community of Trenton and the communities surrounding the capital city of New Jersey are taking action to stop the epidemic of disastrous water conditions and quality in the public works of many cities in New Jersey. Whether it is on a local level, county level, regional level or the state level, folks are beginning to realize that their well-being and environment are in danger. The actions that are taking place in the state will be beneficial for Years to come for current, future residents and the next generation of Americans.