The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) believes that consolidation can be an effective voluntary solution for rural and small water systems to provide safe, affordable water for their communities. The viability and potential benefits vary considerably between communities and are best determined by local decision-makers.   

Rural Water has led or assisted more communities in consolidating water utilities than any other program, policy, or organization. Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shows that today, there are 49,413 community water systems in the US, 4,651 fewer than in 2000.^{1, 2}  Most community water systems are NRWA members, some of which have grown through and benefited from consolidation efforts.   

The community’s rights to make local decisions about consolidation must be protected. A significant amount of misinformation is being spread about consolidation, and previous efforts to compel small, rural systems to consolidate under the guise of guaranteed benefits have caused confusion and mistrust. NRWA supports transparency and complete information on this critical topic.

Regional Partnership Program: A Community-Led Approach

Across the country, rural utilities face increasing pressure from aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, regulatory requirements and rising operational costs. The white paper, titled “Regional Partnership Program: A Community-Led Approach,” underscores that federal policy must support voluntary, community-driven regionalization by ensuring communities have access to planning resources, technical assistance and investment strategies that allow them to evaluate partnership opportunities while protecting local autonomy.

Drawing on decades of on-the-ground technical assistance and system data, the analysis shows how community-led regional collaboration, supported by trusted technical assistance providers, can strengthen long-term sustainability while preserving local governance, community identity and public accountability.

1. Factoids Drinking Water and Ground Water Statistics for 2000: US Environmental Protection Agency 2001. 

2. Environmental Protection Agency’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online website [database on the Internet]2025 [cited 2/25/2025]. Available from: https://echo.epa.gov/. 

Resources

Regional Partnership Program: A Community-Led Approach White Paper	Download the White Paper
NRWA Consolidation Guiding Principles	Learn More
NRWA Releases Guiding Principles on Voluntary Water System Consolidation	Learn More
EPA’s Water System Partnerships FAQ	Learn More
EPA’s How to Support Water System Partnerships Handbook	Learn More
EPA Water System Partnerships Case Studies	Learn More
EPA’s Water System Partnerships Implementation Tools and Resources	Learn More