About NRWA

The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) was formed in 1976.  Prior to that, rural and small utilities, (comprising 92% of our nation�s community water supplies), had little if any voice in legislative and regulatory issues.  Today, NRWA through its State Rural Water affiliates is the nation�s largest water and wastewater utility membership association with over 28,353 utility members.  Our strong grassroots advocacy ensures increased funds, and their availability, through the Rural Utilities Service, State Revolving Loan Funds and other private entities.   

NRWA is the voice in regulatory debates, advocating for reasonable, practical, and affordable regulations for the majority of water supplies across the nation.  This advocacy has established rural water as the trainer of the industry with our State Affiliates training over 100,000 people annually.  Classroom instruction is followed-up with on-site assistance that facilitates governance, management and finance of operations, as well as, protection of our source water for future generations.   These services and many more, specific to your state, are available through your State Rural Water Association.

NRWA State Affiliates are governed by the utility membership in their state and NRWA is governed by a non-paid Board of Directors consisting of one director from each State Affiliate.  The National Office is located in the rural setting of Duncan, Oklahoma with a legislative office in Washington D.C.

The National Rural Water Association, through its state affiliates, is the largest water and wastewater utility membership organization in the nation representing over 28,353 public water and wastewater utilities.  While membership includes utilities of all sizes, they primarily service populations of 10,000 or less and comprise 94% of the public water systems in America.

 RURAL WATER IS: 

              -  The trainer of the water industry with its state affiliates training over 100,000 people annually.  Since 1976 the National Rural Water Association has expanded to represent rural and small communities through 48 state affiliates with over 28,353 utility members.  These public water and wastewater systems comprise 94% of the public water supplies in the nation. Rural Water training and technical assistance is widely credited as the backbone of compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

  -  The premier provider of technical expertise to utilities who simply could not afford it individually.  Each state affiliate has a cadre of expertise to go on-site and assist utilities in all areas of operation, management, finance, and governance.  These services are provided in part though the Rural Utilities Service, the Farm Service Agency and Congressional Appropriations to Rural Water through the Environmental Protection Agency.

-  The advocate for rural and small system issues in the regulatory process.  The Safe Drinking Water Act requires standards to be established based on the affordability to large metropolitan systems.  Rural Water is the advocate for the majority of systems in the nation to insure that rules and regulations be reasonable, practical and affordable for all systems.

-  The First Responder of Choice whether the emergency be local, statewide or regional.  Rural Water State Affiliates have personnel in place who work with systems on-site every day.  Their knowledge and skills have been clearly documented in all types of emergencies from flooding to Hurricane Katrina.  In addition to personnel, rural water maintains a network of responders ready to deploy with equipment, such as generators, when needed. 

-  The strongest and most respected voice in the Halls of Congress for our Industry.  Rural Water maintains a Legislative and Regulatory Affairs office in Washington, D.C.  This office coordinates and facilitates the grassroots advocacy of NRWA state affiliates and the 28,353 utility members.  This effort works to insure that funding and resources are available to the rural and small systems of our nation.  A prime example of effectiveness is the inclusion of water and wastewater infrastructure in the 2009 Stimulus Bill.  The stimulus funds will provide for approximately $3.89 billion of construction, upgrades, and expansion of service areas.   The National Rural Water legislative and regulatory effort is ongoing on a daily basis, and a �Rural Water Rally� is held each year in Washington, D.C. to support these efforts.

The National Rural Water is governed by one Board member from each of its state affiliates.  As such, the organization is assured to stay in tune with rural and small system issues and needs.  Each year these issues and needs are addressed at a national gathering that brings National VIPs and system personnel together; odd years this event is the H2O-XPO, which is co-located with the International Construction Underground Utility Exposition, and even years is the National Rural Water Governance and Management Conference.