About NRWA

The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) was formed in 1976. Prior to that, rural and small utilities, with populations of 10,000 or less (comprising 92% of our nations 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 31,000 members. Our strong grassroots advocacy ensures increased funds, and their availability, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, State Revolving Loan Funds, along with other federal agencies and 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 the state affiliates, are available through the State Rural Water Associations.

NRWA State Affiliates are governed by the utility membership in their state and NRWA is governed by a volunteer 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.

 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 utilities in every state, through 49 state affiliates with two states having combined representation. Rural Water training and technical assistance is widely credited as the backbone of compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean 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 funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.

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

• 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 over 31,000 members. This effort works to insure that funding and resources are available to the rural and small utilities of our nation. 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 a board of directors with representation of one Board member from each of its state affiliates. As such, the organization is assured to stay in tune with rural and small utility issues and needs. Each year these issues and needs are addressed at a national gathering that brings National VIPs and system personnel together.