A municipal authority is a government agency founded by a municipal entity (the County of Lehigh in LCA’s case) to meet some specific need of the founding municipality. It is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the founding municipality and is a separate legal and functional entity. A municipal authority, by law, is a non-profit entity, receives no direct taxpayer funding, pays no sales tax and is eligible for low-cost financing and grants that are available for government entities. A municipal authority isn’t controlled by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, but rates must be set according to state standards for municipal authorities. We are required to meet all standards for public safety and environmental protection as regulated by state and federal environmental laws.

In this way, a municipal authority is able to run in a cost-effective and efficient manner that results in affordable rates for public services such as the water and sewer services LCA provides. LCA is able to work directly with ratepayers (water and sewer customers) to meet their needs and to develop partnerships and cooperative programs with neighboring municipal water and sewer systems. LCA’s customers benefit not only from our status as a municipal authority, but also our business-like approach to fulfilling our responsibilities. LCA's water rates are among the lowest in the Lehigh Valley and our regional approach allows us to act quickly and to provide enhanced services where and when we are needed.