Water and waste facility loans and grants to alleviate health risks

7 U.S. Code § 1926c. Water and waste facility loans and grants to alleviate health risks

(a) Loans and grants to persons other than individuals
(1) In generalThe Secretary shall make or insure loans and make grants to rural water supply corporations, cooperatives, or similar entities, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other federally recognized Indian tribes, and public agencies, to provide for the conservation, development, use, and control of water (including the extension or improvement of existing water supply systems), and the installation or improvement of drainage or waste disposal facilities and essential community facilities including necessary related equipment. Such loans and grants shall be available only to provide such water and waste facilities and services to communities whose residents face significant health risks, as determined by the Secretary, due to the fact that a significant proportion of the community’s residents do not have access to, or are not served by, adequate affordable—
(A)
water supply systems; or
(B)
waste disposal facilities.
(2) Certain areas targeted
(A) In generalLoans and grants under paragraph (1) shall be made only if the loan or grant funds will be used primarily to provide water or waste services, or both, to residents of a county—
(i)
the per capita income of the residents of which is not more than 70 percent of the national average per capita income, as determined by the Department of Commerce; and
(ii)
the unemployment rate of the residents of which is not less than 125 percent of the national average unemployment rate, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(B) Exception
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), loans and grants under paragraph (1) may also be made if the loan or grant funds will be used primarily to provide water or waste services, or both, to residents of a rural area that was recognized as a colonia as of October 1, 1989.
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