Lehigh County Authority introduces LCA WaterWorks, a clearer public identity for its essential services, and marks a $15.44 million PENNVEST investment in lead service line replacement.
Allentown, Pa. — Lehigh County Authority today introduced LCA WaterWorks, a new public-facing name and logo designed to help customers and community members across the Lehigh Valley more easily recognize the organization and understand the essential water and wastewater services it provides.
The announcement coincides with another major milestone for the community. LCA is scheduled to close on $15.44 million in funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to advance the next phase of lead service line replacement in the City of Allentown. The funding includes an $8.2 million grant that will help reduce the financial impact of this critical public health investment on City water customers.
The new logo represents an evolution of LCA, not a change in the organization’s mission, services or legal name. Lehigh County Authority will remain the organization’s legal name where required, while LCA WaterWorks will increasingly appear on customer communications, digital platforms, vehicles, uniforms, signs and other public-facing materials.
“This is much more than a new name and logo,” said Liesel Gross, Chief Executive Officer of Lehigh County Authority. “LCA WaterWorks gives us a clearer way to show who we are, what we do and why our work matters. Our mission and services remain the same, but our new identity will help the public more easily recognize the employees, information and infrastructure they rely on every day.”
The PENNVEST investment will support the replacement of approximately 1,000 lead service lines, along with additional investigations to identify unknown service line materials. The project represents the next phase of LCA’s ongoing commitment to reducing lead exposure, strengthening drinking water infrastructure and protecting public health throughout the City of Allentown.
“The name LCA WaterWorks helps people more clearly understand our role, but this investment shows what that looks like in action,” Gross said. “Replacing lead service lines protects public health,
strengthens our water system and, through significant grant funding, helps us move this work forward while reducing the financial impact on our customers.”
The new identity grew from an extensive research and engagement process that included employee survey responses, customer survey and stakeholder input, focus groups, Board of Directors feedback and a review of peer and industry utilities. In total, feedback representing more than 1,000 voices helped shape the direction of the LCA brand.
That research revealed a persistent challenge: the name “Lehigh County Authority” did not immediately communicate that LCA is a water and wastewater utility. Customers and community members
sometimes associated the organization with county government, the parking authority, courts, recycling, trash collection or other public services. The research also showed that “LCA” already carried familiarity among employees, partners and stakeholders.
LCA WaterWorks builds on the familiarity of LCA while making the organization’s role as a water and wastewater utility immediately clear.
The October 15 announcement coincides with Imagine a Day Without Water, a national observance highlighting the essential role water infrastructure plays in public health, environmental protection, economic activity and everyday life.
Customers will begin seeing the LCA WaterWorks identity on the organization’s website, social media channels and public communications. Updates to vehicles, signs, uniforms, bills and other materials will occur gradually as part of normal replacement cycles. The identity may be new, but customers will continue receiving the same high-quality, safe and reliable services from the same organization and employees.
A new identity. The same commitment to public health.
About LCA WaterWorks: LCA WaterWorks is the public-facing identity of Lehigh County Authority, a nonprofit public water and wastewater utility committed to protecting public health and the environment through high-quality, safe and reliable services. The organization provides essential water and wastewater services to more than 270,000 people and supports the communities, infrastructure and economic vitality of the Lehigh Valley.
The name LCA WaterWorks is written as one word with a capital “W” in both “Water” and “Works.” The capitalization is intentional: At LCA, our water works. It works to protect public health, support our communities, sustain economic growth and safeguard the environment.
In news coverage, please use LCA WaterWorks on first reference and LCA on subsequent references. Lehigh County Authority remains the organization’s legal name and will continue to be used where legally required.
Information provided to TVL by:
Taylor Stakes
