USDA Wastewater Technical Assistance and Training Program
About the Program
The purpose of the Wastewater Program is to protect the nation’s multi-billion-dollar investment in rural and small municipal water/wastewater systems by providing on-site technical assistance, which ensures cost-effective operations and adequate income for both operations and debt service within each state.
The NRWA has 75 dedicated and talented Wastewater Technicians across the country through their State Rural Water Association. The primary goal of these technicians is to assist small and rural communities to enhance and maintain the financial sustainability of their wastewater systems through technical assistance and/or training.
Specific Responsibilities of Wastewater Technicians
- Provides assistance to rural, unincorporated small municipal systems, tribal systems, and incorporated municipal systems under 10,000 population
- Travels throughout the state to offer on‑site technical assistance
- Provides assistance in all areas of operations, maintenance, management, security, finances, loan application, health, and environmental issues
- Provides on-site assistance that train personnel in skills they will be able to perform in the future as problems arise
- Prioritizes requests to ensure coverage of wastewater systems with serious health or economic problems first
- Reviews new technical standards set and proposed by public and private organizations
- Responds to inquiries from facilities, consumers, governmental agencies, and others regarding technical matters
- Provides Formal Training Classes on Emerging Contaminants, Compliance, Operation and Maintenance, Treatment and Management/Finance
Priority will be given to persons or groups who do not have access to proper wastewater treatment practices.
The Wastewater Program is considered one of the most technically demanding Rural Water offers. It requires technicians with many years of experience operating and managing wastewater facilities in order to provide the training and assistance needed to keep Rural America thriving.