News Update: LCA / Allentown Water System Interconnection
Joggers and walkers who are out getting a jump-start on their New Year’s resolutions are noticing something that looks like a new obstacle course in the western portion of Allentown’s Cedar Creek Parkway. But the long stretch of 24-inch piping laid through the area is not part of some new fitness craze – it’s the future path for water to flow from the city’s pipe network into Lehigh County Authority’s (LCA).
The two-phase water system interconnection was planned back in 2008 when LCA and Allentown negotiated a long-term water supply agreement to help maintain an adequate supply of fresh drinking water for the growing areas of western Lehigh County.
The first phase of construction was completed in 2010 and cost $4.5 million, to provide LCA with 2 million gallons of water per day directly from the city’s Schantz Spring source.
The second phase of the project is under construction now and will eventually provide an average of 7 million gallons of water per day to LCA, using the city’s excess capacity from its water treatment plant. When the second phase is completed, by the end of 2012, the current Schantz Spring connection will be closed.
LCA will be laying nearly three miles of 24-inch pipe between the two water systems to complete the project, at a cost of about $4.1 million. Much of this construction has already been completed in County park properties west of Cedar Crest Boulevard.
Now construction is beginning in Cedar Creek Parkway and other areas in South Whitehall Township and in Allentown. The connection point to the city’s water system will be constructed near the Muhlenberg College campus at 26th and Chew streets. Some work in this area is scheduled for this week while the school is on winter break to lessen the traffic impacts. Workers will return to this area in mid-2012 to make the final connection.
This water system project follows decades of discussion between LCA and Allentown about the best way to manage local water resources. LCA has traditionally relied on groundwater wells to supply drinking water to its customers, while Allentown uses a mix of spring water and water drawn from the Little Lehigh Creek and the Lehigh River. However, most of the water used by LCA and Allentown flows through the same watershed area. By interconnecting the two water systems, supplies can be managed on a more regional, watershed basis, especially during times of drought or flood when either groundwater or surface water may be impacted by changing conditions.
Want more information? Download our Interconnect Fact Sheet!
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Lehigh County Authority (LCA) strives to provide high quality, affordable and reliable water and sewer service to its more than 20,000 customers in Lehigh County and Northampton County, Pennsylvania.