Livagjë, Kosovo - December 23, 2009 — Today, Patricia Rader, USAID/Kosovo Mission Director, drank the first glass of water from the newly opened water supply project in Livagjë village, Kosovo.

In a statement at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding that started the project in January of 2009, Rader said that the project was a gift to Kosovars from the American people.

“Over 35 percent of the population of Kosovo, including these municipalities, consume contaminated water,” Rader said.

The water supply project in Livagjë village--which is nearly entirely Serbian--is part of a system that will also serve an additional seven villages in Lipjan Municipality: Banullë, Gllogovc, Gumna Sella, Konjuh, Llugagji, Qallapek and Smallushë. These villages, with a total population of 22,000, are currently being supplied with drinking water from individual wells that do not meet quality standards for drinking water.

The project was completed under the Small Infrastructure for Water and Sanitation (SIWS) Program, funded by USAID and by cost-sharing contributions from communities, municipalities, and regional water companies. The grand opening ceremony was also attended by the Mayor of Lipjan Municipality and representatives from SIWS program, a local partner organization (Community Development Fund), and the community.