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… Read more »
Category: News
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… 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… 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… 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… Read more »
Water Project
By Dennis Berkey, Sixth Grade Teacher, Westview Elementary Originally featured in Alliance of Indiana Rural Water’s Hoosier Pipeline. Students at Westview Elementary School are becoming experts in water. This rural school with a large Amish population is located in LaGrange County. Sixth graders are building “pond” ecosystems and monitoring the water quality. Teachers and students… Read more »
Utility Management Certification Reaching Far and Wide
Today, the water and wastewater industry is more complex than ever before. Economics, increased complexity in regulatory requirements and a changing society are crafting the water and wastewater systems of tomorrow. As our industry changes, there is a strong need to recognize the individuals who provide management leadership to the industry and create a standard… Read more »
NRWA Opens 2020 Rural Water Rally with Speeches from Senator Roy Blunt and Deputy Undersecretary for USDA Rural Development DJ LaVoy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Rural Water Association opened the 2020 Rural Water Rally with approximately 280 rural water professionals in attendance on February 4 in Washington, D.C. VIP speakers Senator Roy Blunt from Missouri and DJ LaVoy, Deputy Undersecretary for USDA Rural Development, spoke to Rural Water Rally attendees. Blunt expounded on the importance… Read more »
North Marshall Water District of Kentucky Takes Home Best Tasting Water in the Nation
Washington, D.C. – North Marshall Water District, located in Benton, Kentucky, claimed the 2020 title of America’s Best Tasting Drinking Water at the 21st Anniversary of the Great American Water Taste Test, held on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. as part of the Rural Water Rally. The Silver Medal was a tie between Mapleturn… Read more »
Planning for the Future with a Source Water Protection Program
Originally featured in Kentucky Rural Water Association’s magazine Waterproof. By Matt Glass, Source Water Specialist Drinking water sources are subject to a variety of contaminants and Source Water Protection (SWP) can be considered the front-line defense against the impacts of the pollutants. The fact that water utilities spend a significant amount of money each year… Read more »