The Special Meeting of the Lock Haven City Council held on October 23, 2023, focused on critical discussions regarding water usage and infrastructure challenges faced by the city. The meeting began with an overview of the current water flow monitoring efforts at the treatment plant, where officials reported a significant increase in water usage since July 31, when a break occurred in the system. Prior to this date, the average water usage was approximately 2.7 million gallons per day, but it has since risen to over 3 million gallons daily, with only a few exceptions.

Council members expressed concerns about the implications of this increased usage, suggesting that multiple issues may have arisen since the break. The discussion highlighted the need for further investigation into the causes of the spike in water consumption, as officials noted ongoing efforts to identify potential leaks or other problems.

The meeting also addressed financial considerations related to infrastructure improvements. It was proposed that the filtration authority or suburban entities could cover the costs for necessary hardware, with the city potentially reimbursing these expenses through available funds from previous allocations. Specifically, over a million dollars from the 2021 budget was mentioned as a possible source for interim financing for the project.

Additionally, council members reviewed historical data on water withdrawal, noting that the daily average flow through the system has remained relatively stable, with slight decreases observed in recent years. However, discrepancies in reported usage from various consumers, particularly in relation to additional draws from certain sources, were acknowledged as complicating factors in accurately assessing overall consumption.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the importance of continued monitoring and analysis of water usage trends, as well as the need for strategic planning to address the city's infrastructure needs moving forward. Further discussions and follow-up actions are expected in upcoming council meetings as the city seeks to resolve these pressing issues.