Sen. Cris Dush and Rep. Martin Causer announced on April 15 nearly $575,000 in funding for wastewater system upgrades in Austin Borough, Potter County.
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority approved the borough’s application to finance a Construction Wastewater Project that will decommission current pump stations and install about 1,400 feet of new gravity sewer lines. The new infrastructure will include sewer laterals, cleanouts, and related components to carry wastewater to the treatment plant using only gravity, removing the need for grinder pumps. Funding consists of a low-interest loan of $430,670 and a grant of $143,366.
“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,” Dush 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.”
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 leads as senator for the 25th District—which covers Cameron, Clinton, Elk, McKean, Potter counties as well as parts of Jefferson and Centre counties—and chairs the Senate State Government Committee according to his official website.
Dush has advocated for constitutional rights protections as well as anti-human trafficking legislation according to his official website. He influenced legislation by sponsoring Senate Bill 44 supporting human trafficking victims; this bill became Act 39 of 2023 according to his official website. Before entering politics he served as a law enforcement officer and military veteran according to his official website.
He also focuses on priorities such as restoring election integrity; reducing government spending; balancing budgets; opposing tax increases; while working toward community protection efforts according to his official website.
