Bethlehem Water District No. 1

In compliance with state regulations, the Town of Bethlehem Department of Public Works publishes an annual report outlining municipal water quality. This report aims to enhance public awareness about water quality and highlight the importance of protecting our water sources.

Last year, we conducted tests for over 80 potential contaminants. Of these, 27 were detected, with only one exceeding state-permitted levels. Our water exceeded regulatory standards for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), and we've implemented increased distribution system flushing while designing improvements to one of our treatment plants to minimize TTHM formation.

Our water comes from multiple sources:

• Surface water from the Vly Creek Reservoir in New Scotland
• Groundwater from two wells in New Scotland
• Groundwater from eleven wells along the Hudson River
• Surface water from Albany's Alcove Reservoir (purchased supply)

The New Salem Water Treatment Plant draws from Vly Creek Reservoir (1.25 billion gallon capacity) and can process 6 million gallons daily. Treatment includes chlorination, activated carbon for taste/odor control, aluminum sulfate coagulation, rapid sand filtration, and corrosion control. No fluoride is added to Bethlehem's water.

Our Clapper Road facility includes a groundwater infiltration system with 11 wells adjacent to the Hudson River, capable of treating 6 million gallons daily using Trident filter units, chlorine disinfection, polyaluminum chloride coagulation, and corrosion inhibitors.

To strengthen our distribution system, we maintain interconnections with Albany's water system at Kenwood Avenue and Creble Road, purchasing approximately 1.23 million gallons daily. We also have an emergency interconnect with Guilderland's water system.

Bethlehem Water District serves about 35,000 residents through 11,582 service connections. In 2017, we provided 1.66 billion gallons of water from all sources, with average daily production of 4.54 million gallons. Our system includes over 220 kilometers of water mains, 1,670 hydrants, and storage tanks with 14.2 million gallons combined capacity.

For questions about your water quality, please contact Mr. George Kansas, P.E., Commissioner of Public Works at (518) 439-4955 or GKansas@townofbethlehem.org.

1. Where are you located? The Parks and Recreation Department is located inside the Chesterfield Township Municipal Offices at 47275 Sugarbush (between 21 Mile Road and Cotton Road).
2. What are your office hours? Our offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3. How can I obtain a program brochure? Brochures are published three times yearly (May, August, December) and available at the Municipal Offices, Township Library, or downloadable from our website. They're also mailed to all Chesterfield Township residences.
4. How can I register for a program? Registration can be completed in three different ways. See our "Registering for a Program" page for complete details.
5. Can I register for programs by phone? Currently, we don't accept telephone registrations.
6. Do you accept credit cards? Yes, Chesterfield Township accepts credit cards at the Township Hall. A convenience fee of 3% (minimum $2) is charged directly by Point & Pay for this service.
7. Is there a fee for online registrations? Yes, online registrations incur a 2.50% fee (minimum $1.95). For example, a $100 program fee would have a $2.50 transaction fee, while a $50 program would have the minimum $1.95 fee. Convenience fees are non-refundable.
8. Can non-residents register for your programs? Yes. Non-residents pay an additional $5 per person, per program (excluding entertainment park ticket sales). For bus trips and special events, the $5 fee applies per ticket. Popular programs may offer priority registration for residents.
9. When is the last day to register for a program? We encourage early registration as many programs have limited availability and fill quickly. Prompt registration also helps prevent program cancellations due to low enrollment.
10. Where can I find your refund policy? Our complete refund policy is available on our website.