LSA NEWS – SPRING 2008
The Lower Saucon Authority Board has approved a 7% increase in water rates, effective April 1, 2008. A letter was sent to Authority Customers announcing the change on March 7.
The last increase in rates was in July of 2004. By comparison, since that time, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W, December 2004 through December 2007) has increased some 10.6%. The CPI-W is the index typically used to determine the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
The first billing reflecting the new rate structure will occur in the bills received in the first week in August, for the usage period from April - June. A typical residential customer, with a 5/8-inch meter using 15,000 gallons of water over 3 months, will see an increase in their quarterly bill of $6.86, or roughly 7 ½ cents a day. All customers are charged a base charge, depending on meter size (most residential meters are 5/8-inch), and $4.98 per 1,000 gallons of water use. The full rate schedule, including base charges for larger commercial and industrial meters are detailed in the Rate Information page of this website.
The increase is primarily a result of inflationary pressures over the past 3 years. In addition, we must continue to fund the measured, stage-wise replacement of key infrastructure, primarily older water mains. We replace 1,200-1,500 feet of water main each year, replacing old galvanized steel (small diameter) and gray cast iron from the early-mid 1950’s or earlier with modern cement-lined ductile iron pipe. We replaced water main on Whiteacre in 2005 and Whiteacre North and Birch Knoll areas in 2006 and on Kistler and Rovaldi in University Heights in 2007. We plan to replace a 1,050 foot section of 6-inch gray cast iron on Quarter Mile Road which has been in service since the mid 1950’s. As part of this project, we are also planning to add a 450 foot section of new 12-inch main to connect Quarter Mile and Hilltop Roads in order to improve overall system performance.
Maintaining and renewing critical infrastructure, whether it is water or sewer mains, pump stations, roadways, bridges, etc. is essential to the long term quality of life and economic viability of our community.
Sewer rates, last adjusted in January of 2007, are unaffected, and remain at $102 per quarter per EDU.
If you desire more detailed information, please give us a call at 610-317-3212, send us an e-mail at administrator@lowersauconauthority.org.
|
Annual Hydrant Flushing Program Scheduled for April
21-May 2, 2008 The Lower Saucon Authority will conduct its annual hydrant flushing program for 2008 from April 21 through May 2. This planned maintenance helps to keep the water mains free of scale and sediment etc. The flushing will be done neighborhood by neighborhood over a period of two weeks. The Authority will use the automated phone messaging system from One Call Now (www.onecallnow.com), to notify customers when their area will be affected. We will call the evening before we flush a given area so that customers can avoid doing laundry on that day. Because some sediment will be flushed out of the mains during this process, small amounts of discolored ("rusty") water could be drawn into the washing machine if it draws during the few minutes that the main is undergoing high flow. The safest approach is to avoid doing laundry on that day to avoid problems. Customers whose contact information has changed in the past year are encouraged to contact the office at (610)-317-3212 with their preferred phone number. The anticipated schedule, by day and area, is posted on this site at the Flushing Schedule Page.
|
|
 |
Staff - New Hire
Toby Weaver joined the Authority on September 24 as a Technician II. He replaced Walter Murphy who retired in the spring.
Please join us in welcoming Toby and wishing him success in his new career.
Toby Weaver - Technician II
Leithsville Sewer Project
The Authority is currently in the process of communicating with the Hellertown Borough Council and getting their input on the proposed construction of a gravity-based sewer interceptor through Borough-owned lands on the west side of town, just east of the Saucon Creek. A detailed discussion of the proposed project can be found by clicking the following link: Leithsville Sewer Project.
Once we have their input, we will make another presentation before the Lower Saucon Township Council to get their direction on next steps.
Kistler and Rovaldi Main Replacement Project - 2007
The Authority replaced some 1300 feet of pre-1940's vintage water main on Kistler and Rovaldi in University Heights with new 6-inch cement-lined Ductile Iron Pipe this Spring as part of our ongoing Main Replacement Program. In addition, we added at new fire hydrant to the area (intersection of Kistler and Rovaldi to improve fire protection coverage.
As always, special thanks to the residents for their cooperation and understanding as we did the work.
Positioning a Length of 6-inch Ductile Iron Pipe Before Lowering into Trench
Consumer Confidence (CCR) / Water Quality Report
The annual CCR report for calendar year 2006 was mailed to all Lower Saucon Authority water customers on June 25, 2007.
It describes water quality test results taken by our water supplier, the City of Bethlehem, on the source water and tests taken within our system throughout 2006 by Authority technicians.
A copy of the 2006 report is currently attached to this website and can be accessed by following the highlighted link above. It is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file and can be read using the free Acrobat Reader available online at www.adobe.com.
The report, required by a 1996 amendment to the Clean Water Act, provides detailed information on the source of the water in the system and testing results / water quality in the system.
System Security
A page has been dedicated to System Security issues, things that customers need to know about the water and sewer operations to help keep our community safe from those who might wish to vandalize or otherwise harm it.
Articles will be posted in this area to give customers enough information on the system to be able to recognize and report suspicious activity. Probably the single most effective measure we can take as a community is to be observant and aware of our surroundings.