FACT SHEET
What is Water 2000?
Water 2000 is the Clinton-Gore Administration’s initiative to
invest in bringing safe, affordable drinking water to the nearly 2 million
rural Americans who currently have critical drinking water availability,
quality and dependability problems. Since October 1, 1994, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, which leads Water 2000 efforts, has invested about $2.5 billion
in loans and grants in high priority projects that serve more than 3 million
people nationwide.
What are the benefits of Water 2000?
Protecting Public Health
- Federal investment in safe and clean water protects people from
waterborne illnesses. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
estimates that nearly one million Americans annually become sick from drinking
contaminated water.
- Children living in homes without any drinking water, or with water
that is sub- standard in quality or quantity, are more likely to suffer from
chronic intestinal diseases and other health problems.
Promoting Economic Development
- Good, safe water in abundant supply is a necessity for economically
distressed communities to expand and take on more ambitious job development,
health care, telecommunications and educational improvement projects.
- To reach homes targeted by Water 2000, rural water systems must
expand their service areas to take in previously unserved areas. These new and
expanded services will invariably open the door for improved living standards
and expanded economic opportunities.
Improving Quality of Life
· Many communities in lake, river and bayside locations are
polluting the natural environment with effluent from inadequate sewage disposal
systems.
This Year’s New Projects
- Water 2000 will provide nearly $312 million in grants and
low-interest loans to 113 projects in 41 states– $226 million of it in
USDA funds and the remaining $85.6 million leveraged from local water
districts, county governments, and state and federal agencies.
- About 30 percent of the projects are located in service areas where
the median household income is below the national poverty level.
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