Lehigh County Authority discusses water supply for proposed Allentown data centers
The Lehigh County Authority (LCA) assures it has sufficient water for two proposed data centers in Allentown, Pennsylvania, despite current drought warning conditions. Officials acknowledge water is not an infinite resource, and filtering becomes harder when water levels are low. The LCA maintains its capacity is robust for current and potential future demands.
The Lehigh County Authority (LCA) in Allentown, Pennsylvania, addressed public concerns regarding the water supply needed for two proposed data centers in the city. Taylor Stakes, LCA's Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships, stated that the authority's system, which manages 26 million gallons of water daily, is capable of meeting the demands of the new facilities. He explicitly mentioned that data centers would not be developed in Allentown if the LCA could not guarantee an adequate water supply.
Despite the LCA currently operating under a drought warning status and occasionally requesting customers to conserve water, Stakes maintained that data centers do not pose a significant threat to their system. The authority sources water from various locations, including the Little Lehigh Creek. Stakes noted the paradoxical situation of promoting water conservation during a drought while simultaneously accommodating new development. While acknowledging that water is not an infinite resource, he affirmed the excellent health of the Lehigh County Authority's water supply.