Press Release - National Rural Water Association
2915 S. 13th Street
Duncan, OK, 73533
(580) 252-0629 FAX (580) 255-4476
Contact: Kris Cash, nrwakc@nrwa.org



Rural Water Environmental Benefits Documented


America does not have to worry about safe, clean and affordable water like many Third World Countries because there is an incredible environmental service provided by the National Rural Water Association and its State Affiliates. 

Rural Water trains over 55,000 water and wastewater system personnel annually. State Rural Water Associations provide around 100,000 on-site technical visits every year.  Rural Water training and technical assistance creates a network of support so water and wastewater systems can deal with the complex issues of today’s industry. 

State Agencies from across the country work hand-in-hand with Rural Water to protect the environment, provide communities with source water protection, and meet compliances with federal mandates from the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Clean Water Act (CWA) and other federal laws. 

“On behalf of the Drinking Water Program, I would like to express our appreciation for the work that North Dakota Rural Water System Association has done to help North Dakota’s water systems stay in compliance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. … The on site technical assistance is critical to many small systems who are short of the necessary resources to hire outside assistance when they are having problems.  …Without your efforts several public water systems could possibly be in violation …”

- North Dakota’s Department of Health 

“…We can’t do our jobs without our certified water works operators; this really is a partnership with a shared mission to supply safe and reliable drinking water.  … Examples of technical assistance Evergreen Rural Water of Washington provides include working with newly regulated Group A systems on maintaining compliance with drinking water regulations, assisting new owners of public water systems following a change in ownership, helping water systems accurately complete their WFI form, providing technical support concerning operations and follow-up assistance to water systems after ODW-sponsored training." 

-State of Washington Department of Health
Office of Drinking Water
 

“This letter is to thank the (Florida Rural Water) Association for helping to solve an ongoing problem with the bacteriological clearance of a newly constructed drinking water well in Flamingo.  …Everglades National Park continues to benefit greatly from the support of the Florida Rural Water Association, and its knowledgeable, experienced and customer-oriented staff.” 

-United States Department of the Interior
 Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, Homestead Florida
 

“Thank you and your staff for the excellent assistance your organization (Virginia Rural Water Association) provided during the recent water shortage.  … One significant leak from a four-inch line was estimated to be leaking 300,000 to 400,000 gallons of water per day.  …  Thanks to the expertise of organizations such as yours, this disaster ended with no loss of drinking water during the entire two month emergency,” 

-The Commonwealth of Virginia’s
Department of Emergency Management

 

The assistance (Maine Rural Water Association) offer(s) to water districts throughout the state not only makes our jobs easier; it helps us be more effective in protecting the drinking water quality for Maine citizens.

-State of Maine, Department of Human Services,
Bureau of Health, Division of Health Engineering

Rural Water is a crucial component in keeping America above the mark in environmental protection.  In 2005 alone, the following was accomplished through Rural Water’s efforts:
 

  • Total On-site Contacts: 93,260
  • On-site compliance assistance: 6,209
  • Communities Adopting Groundwater Protection Plans: 2,896
  • Communities Adopting Source Water Protection Plans: 825
  • Communities Receiving USDA Water Funding: 7,862


Rural communities are frontline leaders in environmental protection because of their work with their local State Rural Water Associations, which work closely with governmental agencies.   

The National Rural Water Association is a non-profit federation of State Rural Water Associations.  Its mission: to provide state associations with support services to meet the needs of their membership.  NRWA is America’s largest utility association with over 24,558 members.

 

Related Reading:  Environmentalist? You Bet, Just Ask Us! 


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