In his inauguration speech on 20 January 2009, President Barack Obama highlighted the importance of water in poverty reduction. Here is the quote: “..To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.”

The new US president also reaffirmed the USA's commitment to help the developing world.

Source: The White House, 21 Jan 2009

Tags: north america, policies & legislation, water supply