Allentown, Pennsylvania Water Outage Today
Live Allentown water outage reports, Lehigh County Authority’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Allentown?
Drinking water in Allentown, Pennsylvania is supplied by Lehigh County Authority, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Pennsylvania are regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Who runs the water in Allentown: system profile
Federal records name Lca Allentown Division as the public water system for Allentown, with about 118,000 people on its mains. Customers know it as Lehigh County Authority; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Lca Allentown Division (PA3390024) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 118,000 through 33,498 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 2 surface intakes, 2 active wells, 5 treatment points |
| State regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 10.2 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Where Allentown's tap water comes from
Allentown drinks surface water. Lca Allentown Division draws it from the Little Lehigh Creek and the Lehigh River and treats it before it goes into the distribution system. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Allentown WTP.
The outage angle. A surface-water system depends on its plant staying online. If the plant, the raw-water pumps or the power feeding them fails, pressure can fall across the entire service area at once, and a precautionary boil notice tends to cover whole zones rather than the single street of a main break.
Why the water goes out in Allentown
These are the causes that match the record for Allentown, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Allentown sees about 118 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 30 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on March 6, 2015. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 15 days, ending January 8, 2018. Frost pushes into shallow service lines first. Mains follow when the ground heaves and thaws, which is why break counts climb a day or two after the temperature swings.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 71.4% of occupied homes in Allentown were built before 1970, against 35.5% nationally. Streets of that age tend to sit on cast iron and early steel mains that are near or past their design life, which is where most breaks start.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 67 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Lehigh County from 2015 through 2026, and 9 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Floodwater can undercut pipe crossings, swamp pump stations and overload treatment plants, and a notice to boil water often follows when it enters the system.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Lehigh County number 263 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on PPL Electric Utilities run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Damage from other crews. Water mains share the ground with gas, power and telecom lines, and a strike by any contractor can dry up a block in seconds.
- One-address problems. A closed valve, a meter swap or a failed regulator can leave a single house dry. Compare notes with a neighbor first; if they have water too, start with your own plumbing.
How weather strains the Allentown water system
Main break season in Allentown runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 117.6 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 30.1 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 21.1 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 2.9 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 9.3 |
| Average annual precipitation | 47.5 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (67.6 in) |
| Driest year | 2016 (38.4 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | March 6, 2015 |
| Hottest day in the record | July 29, 2025 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 27.6 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 67.6 inches; the driest was 2016 with 38.4. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The figures are reanalysis estimates for the center of Allentown, not readings from a single weather station, so treat them as a guide to how often each kind of weather occurs rather than as official records.
Allentown boil water notices and EPA compliance record
EPA lists no health-based violations for Lca Allentown Division since 2015. It also lists 5 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent entries, all monitoring or reporting:
- September 2024: A missed or late monitoring or reporting requirement (surface water treatment and turbidity) It is marked resolved.
- September 2024: A missed or late monitoring or reporting requirement (ground water rule) It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Disinfection byproducts | 0 | 2 |
| Coliform bacteria testing | 0 | 1 |
| Ground water rule | 0 | 1 |
| Surface water treatment and turbidity | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
When Allentown loses pressure after a break or a failed test, Lehigh County Authority asks affected customers to boil water for drinking and cooking. The notice ends only after samples come back clean, which usually takes one to two days after service returns, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) supervises the process.
Lead, older pipes and water quality in Allentown
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Lca Allentown Division is 7 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is comfortably below it.
Highest result on file: 10.2 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 71.4% of occupied homes in Allentown predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Lehigh County Authority whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
When will the water come back on in Allentown?
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Allentown usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | A few hours inside a window announced in advance |
| Ordinary main break | Roughly 4 to 8 working hours |
| Large or deep main | A day or two, sometimes three |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | As long as the outage itself, plus a few hours to refill tanks |
| Boil water notice after service returns | One to two days while samples are tested |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
For a break that affects many customers, Lehigh County Authority usually posts an estimated restoration time. When you call, ask the dispatcher what the crew has told them.
Preparing for a long water outage in Allentown
The average household in Allentown has about 2.7 people, so FEMA's minimum of one gallon per person per day comes to roughly 8 gallons for three days and 38 gallons for two weeks.
- 56.8% of households rent. Tell your landlord or property manager about a leak or outage right away, since the shutoff valve may be theirs.
- Your water heater tank holds 30 to 50 gallons of clean water. Turn off the power or gas to it first, then drain from the valve at the bottom.
- Fill a tub or large containers early for toilets, cleaning and handwashing, and store drinking water separately in clean bottles.
How Allentown compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PA | Lca Allentown Division | 118,000 | Surface | 0 | 10.2 |
| Reading, PA | Reading Area Water Authority | 95,100 | Surface | 4 | 2 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia Water Department | 1,600,000 | Surface | 0 | 3 |
| Hamilton, NJ | Trenton Water Works | 217,000 | Surface | 20 | 19.7 |
| Edison, NJ | Edison Water Co | 35,000 | Bought (surface) | 3 | 1.6 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Where to find official Allentown water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from Lehigh County Authority, not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Allentown quick answers about water service
Who do I call about no water in Allentown?
Call the 24-hour line of Lehigh County Authority. Call 911 only if flooding or a main break puts people or property in immediate danger.
Is Allentown water from a river, lake or well?
EPA records for Lca Allentown Division say Allentown relies on surface water. It draws from the Little Lehigh Creek and the Lehigh River.
Is Allentown tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists no health-based violations for Lca Allentown Division since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 7 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
When is water main break season in Allentown?
Winter, mostly. Allentown sees roughly 118 days a year at or below freezing, and the peak runs December through February. Expect breaks to cluster just after sharp temperature swings.
Why did the water pressure drop at my house in Allentown?
Low pressure often comes from a nearby main break, heavy demand on a hot evening, or a failed pressure regulator at your own home. If neighbors are affected too, report it to Lehigh County Authority; if only your home is, check the regulator and shutoff valve.
How long do boil water advisories last in Allentown?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so Lehigh County Authority cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sets the rules for that process.
How much drinking water should I keep at home in Allentown?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average Allentown household has about 2.7 people, which works out to roughly 8 gallons for three days and 38 for two weeks.
Are there lead service lines in Allentown?
71.4% of occupied homes in Allentown were built before 1970, and lead service lines were not banned until 1986. Ask Lehigh County Authority whether your service line is on its lead inventory, and use a filter certified for lead if you are unsure.
Is there a water outage map for Allentown?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of Allentown have sent in over the last day, and Lehigh County Authority has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
More outage pages for Allentown and nearby
Other outage types in Allentown
Water Service Outages in cities near Allentown
- Bethlehem, PA 6 mi · City of Bethlehem Water
- Reading, PA 30 mi · Reading Area Water Authority
- Trenton, NJ 48 mi · Trenton Water Works
- Philadelphia, PA 48 mi · Philadelphia Water Department
- Hamilton, NJ 51 mi · Trenton Water Works
- Scranton, PA 56 mi · Pennsylvania American Water
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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