President George W. Bush to propose $8 million for clean water in Puerto Rico

Jan. 22, 2003 -- President Bush will propose $8 million to provide clean and safe drinking water for Puerto Rico in his fiscal year 2004 budget, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported.

The Puerto Rico Drinking Water Grant would provide funds for upgrades at Sergio Cuevas, a treatment plant within Puerto Rico's largest drinking water system.

Upon implementation, the upgrades would provide cleaner water to the 1.4 million Puerto Ricans served by the water system. The EPA will administer the grant.

According to the EPA, inadequate drinking water infrastructure in Puerto Rico has created a significant health risk, with less than 20 percent of the population receiving drinking water that meets all health-based standards.