lived in poverty in 2011. The unemployment rate for border counties (10.3%) is notably higher than the national average (8.1%); more than 30% of border counties have double-digit unemployment rates.3

Underinvestment in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Economic constraints inhibit investment in water and wastewater infrastructure in rural border communities. In a recent field trip to southern Arizona I witnessed this situation first-hand. I saw that the Bay Acres Colonia in southeastern Arizona does not have an adequate wastewater treatment system, and some individuals have had to abandon their homes due to septic overflow. The Community of Tintown in Bisbee, Arizona lacks access to safe drinking water and wastewater treatment. The wastewater treatment plant in Willcox, Arizona (population 3,900) is failing and requires a major upgrade. There are many similar situationsoutflows directly threatens the ecosystem of the lake and, as such, tourism potential.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Efforts

Since 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has run the Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program in partnership with the National Water Commission of Mexico and in collaboration with the Border Environment Cooperation Commission and the North American Development Bank (both created under NAFTA).

Through a joint contribution agreement between the U.S. and Mexico, the Program provides grant assistance for the construction of water and wastewater treatment plants in both countries. Small communities may also obtain grants to cover the costs of planning and developing water and wastewater treatment projects, which leverages the opportunity to obtain construction funding from other sources. More than 600,000 homes on both sides of the border have received