Rep. Martin Causer and Sen. Cris Dush announced on April 15 that nearly $575,000 in funding has been approved for wastewater system upgrades in Austin Borough, Potter County.
The project aims to improve the community’s wastewater infrastructure by decommissioning existing pump stations and constructing about 1,400 feet of new gravity sewer lines with related components. The new system will be entirely gravity-fed, removing the need for grinder pumps. Funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) includes a low-interest loan of $430,670 and a grant of $143,366.
Causer said, “Efficient, effective and environmentally sound wastewater treatment systems are important to the health and safety of our residents. I support investments like these in our infrastructure systems to improve quality of life in our communities.”
Dush also addressed the importance of this investment: “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,” he said. “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 creation in 1988, PENNVEST has provided financial support for sewer, storm water and drinking water projects throughout Pennsylvania using federal funds as well as state bond issues and proceeds from Act 13 of 2012—the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee.
The improvements are expected to benefit public health by enhancing local water quality while reducing future maintenance costs for residents.
