Waterworks Blog

The beauty of … bacteria?

  This is a beautiful photo — but what’s even more beautiful is what you can’t see: The water purification process taking place.  The water that’s being sprayed into the air is wastewater, and it’s landing on rocks that are coated with a film of specialized, microscopic organisms. As the wastewater trickles down through the…

Lots of Rain = Lots of Mosquitoes. Here’s How to Fight Back

With all the rain we’ve been having this summer, you can be sure the mosquitoes are out in full force. Torrential downpours have left standing water anywhere it can pool: in puddles, in discarded tires, in tree stumps, in the folds of tarps, even in toys left outside. They all make perfect breeding grounds for…

Anglers, boaters asked to help stop spread of invasive species found in Little Lehigh

Tiny New Zealand Mudsnail poses big threat The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is asking anglers and boaters to help prevent the spread of an invasive species, the New Zealand Mudsnail, by cleaning their gear after leaving one waterway and before entering another. Cleaning fishing gear and boats is always a good practice to…

Don’t become a statistic — follow these tips to beat the heat

Though this summer hasn’t been as consistently hot as others (yet), we’ve already had our fair share of blistering temps and heat warnings. As we head into the middle of July, you can be sure more heat waves are likely. Every year, there are grim news stories about children or pets who’ve been locked in…

Fireworks on the Fourth: Celebrate Independence Day Safely

This Fourth of July will be the state’s first under a new fireworks law that allows residents to legally shoot off bigger, louder and more dangerous displays than have been allowed for the last 80 years. It’s a change that brings with it the potential for more injuries — and that has local authorities concerned….

It’s Swimming Season — Make Water Safety a Priority

You may have seen the news reports about the drowning death of 19-month old Emeline Miller, daughter of former winter Olympian Bode Miller. The toddler was playing with other children in a room during a party when she got outside through a back door. By the time anyone realized she was gone, it was too…

Allentown not alone in need for water infrastructure upgrades

There’s no getting around the fact that costly upgrades are needed for Allentown’s more than 600 miles of aging water and sewer lines. Over the next 45 years, LCA expects to spend $1.3 billion on infrastructure improvements in the city. But Allentown and LCA aren’t alone in this struggle: Communities across the country face the same…

The High Cost of Solving Difficult Problems in Allentown

Twenty years ago, I was drawn to apply for a job at Lehigh County Authority. Until then I had taken my tap water for granted, but it was the team’s dedication and the opportunity to serve my community that made it seem like a cool place to work. Over the next two decades, I learned…

Ready to Get Growing? 7 Tips for Spring Planting

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been impatiently waiting to get out in the garden and start the growing season — especially since winter seems to have been stubborn about relinquishing its hold this year. But even though the weather is warming, don’t rush off to the garden center and buy every plant you see. Those…

Join LCA in Celebrating Earth Day

April 22 is Earth Day— and we’ll be celebrating with two events, both on Saturday. From 12-4 at Jordan Park, 1001 N. 6th St., we’ll be joining the City of Allentown Bureau of Recycling for Earth Day in the Park. The event includes live music, giveaways, a raffle, food trucks, face painting, crafts, activities, educational demonstrations…