Days after issuing a "limited water-use" advisory, Trenton is asking more than 200,000 customers to continue to stand by with no clear timeline on when the alert will be lifted.
Wednesday's advisory noted tap water should be saved for "essential needs" and emergencies like fire suppression because of a "frazil ice accumulation" preventing water supply from the Delaware River.
While not a new challenge nationwide, problems with frazil ice -- ice crystals collecting and blocking water intakes -- are not common in Trenton.
"We've been around since the 1800s, frazzle ice has only been an issue now for a couple years," Michael Walker, a spokesman for the utility, told NJ Advance Media on the phone Friday afternoon.
Trenton Water Works recently spent $9 million to make sure this very thing wouldn't happen.
However, Walker said the part of the upgraded system, which uses compressed air to blow screens free of organic matter or ice, "is not working as intended." Amid freezing conditions, the matter has not been resolved.
"This is something that we will look at in the warmer months and possibly change the design of the intake," Walker said, noting the current issue did not impact water quality. "The water is safe to drink, and is one of the finest products of the United States."
In the meantime, Trenton Water Works officials said the utility is working to install several portable "high-capacity" diesel-powered pumps in order to send water directly from the Delaware River into the plant, thus bypassing the intake system.
Walker, who noted more updates will be provided online, said the city has continued to consult with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection including having a meeting with the agency's commissioner Thursday.
A timeline on next steps was not immediately available.
Trenton Water Works, which serves the capital city and neighboring towns, recently made news after an employee was fired when it was discovered he fudged water quality reports. The oversight did not result in any illnesses Trenton was aware of, city officials said.
Still, the utility has long taken heat for operations and management practices, with some calling for a state takeover. A consultant recently highlighted that millions in upgrades for the utility, which serves the majority Black and Hispanic city and other communities, and dozens of hires are sorely needed.
Trenton Water Works provides water for about 217,000 residents in Trenton, Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence and Hopewell.
The city said this week families can use water for hygiene and cooking but should avoid non-essential uses like car washes and half-loads of laundry.
Asked about how much the latest utility fix will cost Trenton, Walker did not have a specific estimate.
"I can tell you that anytime the water utility does anything, the cost is significant," he said.