Since November 2025, two data center developments have been proposed in Lehigh County, triggering immediate public concern. Both could fall within or near Lehigh County Authority’s water and sewer service area, but neither proposal has clearly stated its water or sewer demands.
Residents are right to ask questions. The fact that we don’t know much about the intended water requirements for these developments doesn’t help ease the concern. Some data centers could require up to 5 million gallons of water per day, while others employ closed-loop cooling systems that require water only intermittently (Cooling the Cloud: Water Utilities in a Data-Driven World, American Water Works Association, October 2025).
Also in November, LCA began sharing information about declining water levels due to low precipitation over the past two years. In December, Pennsylvania issued a drought watch for our area. More recently, due to the abnormally frigid temperatures, LCA faced an escalating number of water main breaks. To help us manage these challenges, LCA asked customers to conserve water and check for leaks.
From LCA’s perspective, the message was straightforward: Drought conditions and weather-driven leaks are reducing supply, and water conservation helps protect the system. But when we shared that message on social media and in the local news, most of the comments we received were about data centers and the rising cost of water. This public reaction reflects a deeper concern about how we are planning for long-term water needs in our region.
To be clear, LCA has received no water system plans to review for any proposed data center in our service area. We have no specific unmet need for water supply at this time.
This is how we plan for these kinds of large developments: We collaborate deeply with other utilities and municipal agencies. Water engineers determine our system’s capacity to provide service to the property. If new systems are needed to provide service, we define the project and estimate the cost. We communicate how project costs and other fees would be paid by the developer. We explain the permitting process. And, most importantly, if LCA cannot serve the development without putting current customers and the environment at risk, we tell them so.
As an example, LCA worked closely with local planners for many months leading up to the recent announcement by Eli Lilly that the company plans to build a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lehigh County. The decision was not made in a vacuum, and LCA was one of many local partners helping Lilly evaluate the suitability of the Lehigh County site.
Is it possible that the proposed data centers would be approved to connect to LCA water and sewer systems? For now, it’s too early to say. However, residents can feel confident that LCA will not approve service connections that threaten supply reliability or our environment.
The news about huge, expensive developments might lead people to think this will drive their water costs higher. However, the cost to provide water to new developments is paid by the developer, not our existing customers.
Still, LCA recognizes that water and sewer bills are increasing, and we want customers to understand why this is happening.
Aging infrastructure is the core concern, with 100-year-old pipelines needing to be replaced with greater frequency. New regulatory standards are adding to the burden. For example, in the next 10 years, LCA will replace every lead pipe in our water system at a cost of more than $300 million.
These system needs are causing water and sewer bills to rise rapidly, at a time when customers are already feeling the pinch in their household budgets.
We are blessed to have a resilient, well-planned water system that has served our community very well over time. Readers may be surprised to learn that, despite robust growth in our area, combined residential and industrial water usage in Lehigh County is less than what it was 50 years ago. In the late 1970s, water produced by Allentown and LCA combined to a total of 31 million gallons per day. In 2025, we used 27 million gallons of water per day.
As our region’s water demand shifts over time, we must plan to stay ahead of it, especially when the next wave of growth could be water-intensive and controversial.
Water is a finite resource. Innovative water solutions, like water reuse, are being used in other regions and could be explored to make way for progress in the Lehigh Valley. However, no matter what development is proposed, LCA remains committed to protecting public health and the environment, and we will not compromise on this core mission.
This is a contributed opinion column. Liesel Gross is CEO of the Lehigh County Authority. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author, and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication. Do you have a perspective to share? Learn more about how we handle guest opinion submissions at themorningcall.com/opinions.