Rep. Martin Causer and Sen. Cris Dush announced on April 15 nearly $575,000 in funding for wastewater improvements in Austin Borough, Potter County.
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) approved the borough’s application to finance a Construction Wastewater Project that will decommission existing pump stations and build about 1,400 feet of new gravity sewer. The project includes new sewer laterals, cleanouts, and related equipment to direct wastewater to the treatment plant. The new system will operate entirely by gravity, removing the need for grinder pumps.
The PENNVEST package consists of a low-interest loan of $430,670 and a grant of $143,366.
“Efficient, effective and environmentally sound wastewater treatment systems are important to the health and safety of our residents,” Causer said. “I support investments like these in our infrastructure systems to improve quality of life in our communities.”
Dush said: “Properly functioning water and sewer systems, such as Austin Borough’s entirely gravity-fed, natural forces-driven wastewater treatment process, are very important to the safety and well-being of any community. They are also very expensive to build and maintain. Fortunately, PENNVEST grants and low-interest loans exist to significantly offset these costs, which means ratepayers do not have to bear the brunt of these expensive infrastructure improvement projects that safeguard local water supplies, prevent pollution in our streams and promote public health.”
Since its start in 1988, PENNVEST has funded sewer, storm water and drinking water projects across Pennsylvania using federal funds as well as state bond issues from prior years along with proceeds from Act 13 of 2012’s Marcellus Shale Impact Fee rather than relying on the state’s General Fund budget.
