Learn Where Your Water Comes From During National Drinking Water Week
May 3, 2026There are few things as essential to our health as clean, safe drinking water. And since that’s our mission here at LCA, it’s why we love to celebrate the American Water Works Association‘s Drinking Water Week— one of our favorite times of the year!
This year, Drinking Water Week runs from May 3-9, and all week long we’ll be sharing facts about the region’s largest water system. For instance, did you know that our water filtration plant in Allentown was originally built in 1928 and could produce 10 million gallons of clean water a day (mgd)? Upgrades in the early 1950s increased the plant’s production capacity to 30 mgd, of which we currently use about 22 mgd. LCA itself was formed in 1966 by the County of Lehigh to provide water and wastewater services to county municipalities. Over the years, we’ve grown as residential and industrial growth has necessitated a more regional approach.
Today, LCA serves 20 municipalities via 13 systems that carry drinking water through 663 miles of pipes to 55,000 properties. In Allentown alone, there are 330 miles of water mains!
Yet every day, most of us turn on the tap without giving any thought to the infrastructure that carries clean water from source to tap. And we rarely, if ever, think about the critical work of water professionals who make it all possible! LCA employees work around the clock, 365 days a year, to ensure that homes and businesses alike have clean and reliable water service all day, every day.
Millions of Gallons of H2O Each Day
On average, LCA supplies about 27 million gallons of clean, safe water per day to all of our customers in Allentown and on our Suburban side.
We draw the water from 25 different sources, almost evenly split between groundwater sources such as the Schantz Spring and Crystal Spring, and surface water sources like the Little Lehigh Creek.
After treatment and testing, it’s transferred to a series of “finished water” reservoirs that each can hold millions of gallons. From there, it makes its way to homes and businesses all over the Lehigh Valley via gravity through a vast system of mains and pipes. (To learn more about the process, see Where Does My Drinking Water Come From?)
“Safe drinking water is something people count on every day, often without a second thought,” says AWWA CEO David LaFrance. “Drinking Water Week is an opportunity to recognize the professionals who make that service possible and to reflect on the continued work it takes to maintain and strengthen the systems our communities depend on.”
A Precious Gift
To commemorate the American Water Works Association’s Drinking Water Week, water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools and others throughout North America and beyond are encouraging consumers to learn more about the importance of water services and water infrastructure, especially in times of crisis.
We hope you’ll join us this week as we take time to appreciate the critical role that drinking water plays, both in our lives and in society. Follow our social media accounts for additional content, and check out the links below to learn more about:
Parents, guardians and educators: Kids can learn about water through interactive games and activities! Just click the links below to download materials:
Activity booklet — English
Activity booklet — Spanish
Puzzle – English
Puzzle – Spanish
Coloring Sheet – English
Coloring Sheet – Spanish