The Bethlehem Water Authority held its reorganization meeting Jan. 8, after which longtime Executive Director Stephen Repasch told the Press some of the board’s recent actions and challenges.

Most recently the board has focused on improving the financial position of the Authority and the city’s Water Capital funds while creating a new position and evaluating proposals for a new solar facility to provide power for the Water Filtration Plant in Lehigh Township. They are awaiting a final determination on the financial feasibility of the project, which should arrive this month, and if it is, they may start construction this year.

Maintaining the 22,000-acre watershed in the Poconos is always important, and includes clearing brush, selling timber, and studying the wildlife. Last year, Repasch said, there was no timbering because the markets are down on softwoods, but two projects are planned this year for over 100 total acres.

“Most of the forestry activity is centered around herbicide treatments for invasive weeds,” he said in an email. “We also had projects in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy which included the development of a Dynamic Forest Restoration Block program in Long Pond and the prescribed burning of approximately 200 acres, again in Long Pond. A snowshoe hare study with the PA Game Commission was initiated in late 2025.”

Meanwhile the Authority is now in year seven of litigation with Penn Forest Township over the proposed construction of power-generating wind turbines (the township objects), and the city, with the Authority’s input, continues replacing old water pipes. Repasch said this project will never end, “given there are over 500 miles of distribution system water mains, some of which are over 100 years old. The goal is to replace as much as financially feasible annually, typically a mile or two per year.”

Lastly, Repasch says the city is still in a drought watch situation and the reservoir level at Penn Forest has been declining steadily over the last 6-plus months. It is currently at approximately 48 percent of capacity while the total of the two reservoirs is about 68 percent, or a healthy 6.8 billion gallons.

The Authority meets once per month and is open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at city hall.