Trenton Water Works
History of Extending Water Service to Surrounding Communities
Although service to the Townships surrounding the City had not yet begun, a major step in this objective was completed at the end of the 1800s. In 1899, the Trenton reservoir was completed and placed in operation. When completed, pumping facilities located along the Delaware River delivered unfiltered river water to the reservoir. Another major milestone that enabled expansion into the Townships, occurred in 1914 when the first treatment plant was constructed and placed in service. It produced and delivered treated water to the reservoir.
Klockner Booster Station is designed to blend into the community, disguising its function as a booster station.
From 1906 through the early 1940s, booster pumping stations were constructed to improve service to the Trenton Water Works service area. A 1926 study reveals that Trenton Water Works delivered water to Hamilton Township as early as the 1920s. A 1949 study reveals that water service to the Townships had expanded and was being provided more extensively to Hamilton Township and also to Ewing Township. At one point, there were nine booster stations in operation that pumped water throughout the system. These facilities were phased out after the Central Pumping Station was constructed and brought online in 1957 (this increased reliability and improved pressures and flows). A new Booster Number 3 Station, was located in Ewing Township to replace an old station. It was brought online in 1968 to serve the western portion of Ewing Township. The Klockner Booster Station was placed in operation in 1995, providing water to customers in the southeastern portion of Hopewell Township. These booster stations, along with elevated storage tanks in Ewing, Hamilton, and Lawrence Townships, provide water service to the surrounding communities of Ewing, Lawrence, Hamilton, and Hopewell Townships.
With each expansion into the Townships, a new water main was installed. Prior to the 1960s, most water mains, water services, valves, and fire hydrants were installed by Trenton Water Works. Starting in the 1960s and continuing to the present day, the vast majority of new water main, water services, valves, and fire hydrants are installed and contributed to Trenton Water Works by developers and builders. Currently, there are over 350 miles of water mains in the four Townships that Trenton Water Works serves.
The End