STEVENS POINT, July 12, 1999 - - - Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development - Wisconsin and Country Estates Sanitary District in Walworth County, celebrated the districts designation as a Water 2000 Community today at the Gathering Place located at Country Estates near Burlington, WI.

The Country Estates Sanitary District will receive a $1,925,000 federal loan to finance the construction of a new water treatment system which will serve 206 residential users. The new water system will consist of two new wells, a connecting main, and a water treatment facility.

Kelley Oehler, Business & Community Specialist for USDA Rural Development - Wisconsin presented local officials with a large size check representing the USDA Water 2000 funding for the project. "We are very pleased that Country Estates has been designated a Water 2000 project. It gives them priority status and acknowledges the health risks that presently exist. This community deserves a lot of credit for taking the initiative to apply for funding and move ahead with this new system." Oehler said.

The Water 2000 program is funded through President Clinton’s Initiative for Rural America and targets rural communities where there is the greatest need.