National Rural Water Association through its State Rural Water affiliates is the nation’s largest water and wastewater utility membership association with over 31,000 members.

Apprenticeship Program

It takes more than 380,000 highly skilled water and wastewater personnel to ensure the public supply of safe drinking water and to protect our lakes, streams and groundwater. Advancements in water treatment and supply technology have increased the skills and training required of this workforce. Water professionals are ultimately responsible for meeting stringent regulatory standards, replacing aging infrastructure, recruiting and training new operations specialists, and responding to and recovering from disasters.

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Technical Assistance and Training

Rural Water is the premier trainer of the water and wastewater industry.  State Rural Water Associations train over 100,000 people annually. Rural Water training and technical assistance helps communities comply with the the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act.  Our Association believes in empowering local entities by providing the knowledge and resources they need.

 

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Support Rural Water

NRWA is a grassroots organization founded on the principle of neighbors helping each other.  Membership dues allow NRWA to provide critically-needed assistance to rural and small communities, and represent their interests in Washington, D.C.  Get involved with great people, stay on top of events that affect you, and support America’s water and wastewater professionals!  Become a member of NRWA today.

 

News:

USDA Rural Utilities Service, Water and Environment Programs declare Circuit Riders Essential Service

In response to the Presidential Declaration of a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak, USDA Rural Utilities Service, Water and Environmental Programs declared the Circuit Rider Drinking Water Technical Assistance Contract to be an essential government service. Presidential Policy Directive PPD-21 identifies the water and wastewater systems sector as being a “critical infrastructure sector,” defined by Department…read more →

Special Report from NRWA CEO

These are trying times for our nation and for the people who work at our public water and wastewater utilities. Without a doubt, Americans rely on safe and clean water being provided to their homes. Water utilities provide an essential service every day of the year; now, that service is necessary for people isolated in their homes to survive the…read more →

NRWA Statement on the COVID-19 Virus

The National Rural Water Association continues to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and recommends all water and wastewater utilities review the best and latest information on the following trusted websites: CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html OSHA: www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/controlprevention.html#solidwaste WHO: www.who.int/publications-detail/water-sanitation-hygiene-and-waste-management-for-covid-19 CISA: www.cisa.gov/insights At this time, existing safe management techniques in both drinking water and sanitation apply to COVID-19.  Extra measures are not needed. In…read more →

NRWA PFAS Lawsuit Statement

On Tuesday February 25th, the National Rural Water Association filed a federal class action lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers. NRWA took this action for a simple reason: their rural water and wastewater systems are not responsible for manufacturing or introducing these man-made chemical compounds into communities and environments. They should not have to bear the burden for the costs of testing, treatment and remediation and…read more →

Special Report: Circuit Riders – The Origin and Mission

Initially, Circuit Riders were clergy assigned to travel around specific geographic territories and deliver a sermon or religious address to settlers and organize congregations in the earliest years of the United States. The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) pioneered the concept of a “Circuit Rider” for the water industry in 1980 in cooperation with the Farmers Home Administration, now Rural…read more →
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