"This has forced us to advise the United States that we will have to request a water loan," he said.
Of Mexico's request for a water loan, Gordon Hill, general manager of the Bayview Irrigation District, said, "It will be a cold day in hell when that happens".
These include bills that come on a regular basis: electric or gas, insurance, mortgage, water, loan payments, and other monthly bills.
People who lived on the water often loaned boaters their phones and even their cars.
At the Apple store in the city's swanky Ginza shopping district, staff handed out bottled water and loaned black umbrellas with the company logo.
Water.org underwrites the start-up costs incurred by microfinance institutions (MFIs) developing water and sanitation loan products, including loans for network connections (to public or private utilities), rainwater harvesting tanks, pit latrines, bio-gas toilets, etc.
A more effective mortgage-modification program for homeowners who are under water on their loans would have helped.
He suggested that borrowers who were under water on their loans — that is, they owe more than their houses were worth — but were still making their payments should be able "to earn accelerated principal reduction over time".
He and his colleagues have pioneered WaterCredit, a program that uses philanthropy to jump start a market among microfinance organizations so they get into the business of making water and sanitation loans.
The intent, Mr. Clinton said, is to collect enough money to help rebuild housing; improve health care, schools and drinking water; and provide loans to small businesses in up to 100 villages.
