HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) and Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) today announced nearly $15.5 million in funding for Shinglehouse Borough’s ongoing wastewater treatment plant improvements.

The funding comes in the form of a $15.38 million grant and a low-interest loan of $112,859. Both the grant and the loan were awarded by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) at its meeting Wednesday.

“This is a vital investment in public health, as well as the reliability and longevity of our infrastructure systems in Shinglehouse,” Causer said. “It is so important to ensure our communities can properly treat their wastewater to protect our clean water supply. I was pleased to support this funding.”

“As is the case in most rural communities, meaningful and sustained economic recovery begins with adequately funding and maintaining a safe, reliable and clean water and sewer infrastructure,” said Dush. “I am confident that Shinglehouse Borough will apply both this grant and low-interest loan as investments toward responsible environmental stewardship, to ensure a healthier ecosystem and safeguard the well-being of aquatic life. By qualifying for this highly competitive state financing, Shinglehouse Borough will be able to significantly upgrade the sewer wastewater treatment plant and meet the water quality needs of their community for years to come.”

The funding will help the borough make necessary upgrades to its wastewater treatment facility, includes a new screening system and headworks building, a new influent pump station, a new grit removal system, new clarifiers, a new pre-anaerobic reactor tank, and rehabilitation of the existing chlorine contact tank.

The wastewater treatment system serves 531 households in the borough and three in Sharon Township.

The funding approved today is in place of a grant and loan package offered by PENNVEST earlier this year. The revised funding package better meets the needs of the borough and system customers.

Since its inception in 1988, PENNVEST has served communities and citizens by funding sewer, storm water and drinking water projects across the Commonwealth. PENNVEST funding does not come from the state’s General Fund budget, but through the use of federal funding and prior bond issues by the state, as well as proceeds from Act 13 of 2012, the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee.