City of Bethlehem

The City of Bethlehem's municipal water exceeds virtually all federal and state water quality standards. This report provides an overview of the water quality we delivered last year. It includes information about water sources, contents, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state requirements.

We're dedicated to providing this information because informed customers are our best allies. For additional details about your water supply, contact Jodi Schnauzer at 610-865-7144. You can also visit www.bethlehem-pa.gov for water conservation tips.

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. People with compromised immune systems—such as those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, individuals with HIV/AIDS, elderly persons, and infants—may be particularly susceptible to infections. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers about municipal water consumption. EPA/CDC guidelines for reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Municipal Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

We encourage public participation in community decisions affecting municipal water. Regular Town Council meetings occur on the first and third Tuesdays monthly at 7:00 PM at City Hall, 10 East Church Street. Bethlehem Authority meetings take place on the second Thursday monthly at 4:00 PM in City Hall, Room B-504. Any schedule changes will be announced in local newspapers. The public is always welcome.

The City of Bethlehem's water comes entirely from surface sources: the Wild Creek Reservoir in Towamensing Township, Carbon County (watershed covering 22 square miles) and the Penn Forest Reservoir in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County and Polk Township, Monroe County (watershed covering 17 square miles). This primary supply is located 22 miles north of the City. Tunkhannock Creek in Monroe County provides supplemental water to the Penn Forest Reservoir. Dual transmission mains can deliver up to 47 million gallons daily to the city's filtration plant in Lehigh Township before distribution.

A Resource Water Assessment of the Tunkhannock Creek Intake completed in 2001 determined it's most vulnerable to road deicing materials, highway spills, and underground storage tank leaks. Overall, the watershed has minimal contamination risk. Full reports are available at the PA DEP Northeast Regional Office's Records Management Section (570-826-5472). Assessment summaries can be found at www.dep.state.pa.us (directLINK "source water").

The Bethlehem Authority owns approximately 13,600 acres surrounding the Wild Creek and Penn Forest Reservoirs and about 9,000 acres around Tunkhannock Creek. The Authority restricts activities that could contaminate these water supplies, including prohibiting public access and boating on the reservoirs. This restriction has eliminated potential contamination sources like MTBE (a gasoline additive affecting some water supplies nationwide), which testing shows is non-detectable in our water supply.

All municipal water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Municipal Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

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