Rep. Salinas Announces $1 Million Grant to Replace Aging Sewer Infrastructure in Carlton

Carlton, OR - Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced a $1 million federal Community Project Funding grant to support major sewer infrastructure upgrades in Carlton. The award will help replace 3,800 feet of sewer pipes originally installed nearly a century ago and marks a critical investment in public health and infrastructure while ensuring reliable system capacity for future growth.

"Nobody should be waking up to sewage spilling out onto their street," said Rep. Salinas. "This just goes to show how important reliable sewer infrastructure is for public health, economic prosperity, and local development. I'm proud to have secured this funding for the people of Carlton. For too long, rural communities have been told to make do with less. That's why, when House Republicans stripped funding for projects like this earlier this year, I fought to bring it back. I'll keep championing these projects, pushing for every dollar we can secure, and standing up for our rural communities."

The current failing system allows rainwater to infiltrate the lines, overwhelming the pump station and pushing millions of gallons of excess rainwater toward a treatment plant designed to handle only 450,000 gallons per day. Frequent overflows pose environmental and health risks, while aging pipe segments have already led to sinkholes forming under city streets. The replacement project will strengthen the system for decades, reduce infiltration, avoid costly overflows, and ensure the community's ability to safely manage wastewater during heavy rains.

Rep. Salinas began the visit at Carlton City Hall, where she met with Mayor Linda Watkins and city officials to discuss the longstanding challenges with the town's aging sewer system. The group then walked together to the project site, where Rep. Salinas announced the funding and reiterated her commitment to supporting rural communities across her district. She emphasized that every town, regardless of size, deserves safe, modern infrastructure and pledged to continue pushing in Congress for increased funding for projects like this one.

###