July 13, 1999

USDA will fund $210 million in safe drinking water products in 40 states. Grants and loans announced Monday represent the largest such financial assistance ever distributed under the Clinton Administration. One hundred projects will be funded.

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says at least 2 million rural residents in this country live with serious drinking water problems, including an estimated 740,000 people who have no running water. USDA awards target rural communities plagued by some of the nation=s worst water quality and dependability problems. Children and the elderly are at particular risk from illnesses caused by unclean drinking water.

Among the loans and grants announced are $24 million for 12 projects serving low income, rural towns in Appalachia; $13.7 million for seven projects in seven empowerment zones or enterprise communities; $12.3 million for impoverished colonias in four Southwest states, and $7.2 million for five projects in impoverished Mississippi Delta communities.