Aug. 30, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bethlehem City Council may demand monthly reports on how the city’s sewage plant on Shimersville Road is doing.
At Council’s last meeting, it approved a Consent Order and Agreement between the city and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. That agreement included a $26,941 fine for discharges of waste into the Lehigh River.
More fines could be levied. Edward Boscola, director of water and sewer resources, said his department has been working toward solving the problem.
Council member Hillary Kwiatek proposed the resolution for monthly reports, to be voted on at Tuesday’s meeting. Her proposal makes it clear the City Council won’t try to micromanage the plant (good idea) but instead be kept up to date on how the agreement is going. Boscola said negotiations were in the works for a couple years.
Just an aside: student and civic groups can take tours of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. I was on one of those about 40 years ago and it was interesting and blessedly brief.
Council will also review some proposed changes to buildings in the city’s historic districts, and permits for a couple celebrations.
Bethlehem City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1 in Town Hall.
Here’s a link to the agenda.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 