ALLENTOWN, Pa. — More than a dozen municipalities in Lehigh County depend on the Kline’s Island Sewer System, but it’s aging and nearing its full capacity.
While officials are working on a solution, they’re also looking to residents for help.
“The solutions to address these sewer system challenges will be complex and expensive, with current cost estimates totaling about $300 million over the next decade,” said Liesel Gross, CEO of the Lehigh County Authority. “We’d like the public’s input to help shape the plan details.”
More than a year after authority officials announced a $600 million price tag over the next decade to upgrade aging water and wastewater treatment infrastructure at both Kline’s Island, on Union Street in Allentown, and an industrial pretreatment plant in Upper Macungie Township, the details are still being fine-tuned.
Officials argue an investment is needed to rehabilitate and upgrade the system in order to continue to meet regulations that help protect public health, as well as the environment. In order to collect feedback from residents, the authority has scheduled a handful of meetings this month.
The schedule of open houses includes:
- 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown
- 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at the East Side Youth Center in Allentown
- 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Whitehall High School in Whitehall
- 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Delta Hotels by Marriott in Fogelsville
- 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Fearless Fire Co. in Allentown.
Each open house will include a brief presentation from Gross about the plan, and participants will be able to view exhibits, speak with experts and submit questions and comments about it.
Residents can contact the authority at KISS537@lehighcountyauthority.org or 610-398-2503, extension 164, if accommodations are needed.
An updated plan
The updated plan, at half the previous price, does not include the upgrades to the pretreatment plant at 7676 Industrial Blvd. in Upper Macungie Township.
“That project is still needed but will be developed in direct partnership with the industries that require pretreatment service,” officials said in the release.
During an interview with LehighValleyNews.com in August, Gross said stakeholders, including municipal officials and industry leaders, have been drafted to consider the most prudent way forward for the pretreatment plant. While the bulk of its capacity is used for industries, there’s also a residential component and hauling services, with trucks dropping waste at the facility.
With the plan for a total overhaul of the plant struck down, two other options remain, costing an estimated $93 million and $32 million, respectively.
Pushing the pretreatment plant to the side, there is still major work to be done at Kline’s Island, as well as pipe and pump expansions. In addition, each municipality has its own sewer collection system that needs to be upgraded.
Officials have been working on the plan since 2007, parsing through federal and state regulations, and collaborating with more than a dozen municipalities.
There has never been a comprehensive regional sewer plan for Lehigh County — this is the first of its kind. The authority has launched a dedicated website to keep residents informed.
Officials hope to have a plan for governing bodies in each municipality to review by the end of this year. It might take until spring or early summer of next year for each to adopt it.
