Allen Township Board of Supervisors at the Sept. 27 meeting reported many families in the township will see their water bills rise modestly, as soon as this month, resulting from a notice by Northampton Borough Municipal Authority (NBMA) and not by any action of the township.

Supervisors reported a $2-per-month increase will occur for those residences having 3/4-inch pipes. This increase is expected to affect 1,500 homes receiving NBMA water.

Rates also will go up $2 a month for homes with 5/8-inch pipe meters; $4 a month for those with a 1-inch pipe meter; and $8 a month for residences with 1-1/2-inch and 2-inch pipe meters.

Allen Township is not the only municipality having a water bill increase. Also receiving similar notices from NBMA are customers in Coplay, Northampton, North Catasauqua, Whitehall Township and North Whitehall Township.

Slightly more than 100 homes in Drexel Heights, off Howertown Road and Route 329, are not affected by the water bill hike. Those residences, in one of the oldest housing subdivisions in the township, are served by Bethlehem Water Authority.

Several homeowners have come to the township meetings reporting a decrease in water pressure in their homes.

In other news, the township and the Borough of Northampton are conferring on a sewer service pact; the present contract runs out Dec. 31. The talks center on future sewer capacity to meet the needs of the projected Northampton Industrial Park and High Meadows Estates, a 135 single-home development between Cherryville and Kreidersville roads.