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Bethlehem details 2026 water and sewer budgets; PUC rate case planned, lead‑line work to continue
Summary
The city’s water and sewer departments presented a $69 million combined budget for 2026, highlighting aging infrastructure, a planned PUC rate case, a six‑year AMI meter rollout and a federal timeline to identify and replace lead service lines by 2037.
The Bethlehem City Council heard a presentation from Water and Sewer Director Ed Boscola on the department’s 2026 operating and capital requests, which together with related capital funds account for roughly $69 million.
Boscola described the utilities as “critical infrastructure,” noting the system includes two Poconos reservoirs, a 30‑year‑old filtration plant that produces about 14 million gallons per day on average, nearly 500 miles of water mains and about 250 miles of sewer mains. “Health and safety of the public and the environment are paramount,” Boscola said, adding the department treats about 4 billion gallons of wastewater annually and serves roughly 37,000 metered customers.
The presentation flagged a continuing financial challenge for the water fund: long‑running debt payments that have pressured rates. Boscola said the budget includes money to file a Public Utility…
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