Through this program, national rural water association will deliver a training and technical assistance program for small public water systems to promote compliance with the safe drinking water act…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $8,800,000 Project Grant to the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) under the Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants program (CFDA 66.424). Through this one-year grant, NRWA will deliver training and technical assistance to small public water systems (PWSs) serving populations under 10,000 people in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. The goal is to promote compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and improve the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of these small PWSs. Key activities include providing training classes with continuing education units (CEUs) to promote operator licensure and workforce development, conducting on-site technical assistance, and supporting state affiliate offices through subawards to implement the program locally.

Through this program, national rural water association will deliver a training and technical assistance program for small public water systems to promote compliance with the safe drinking water act (sdwa) and improve financial and managerial capacity.activities:training specialists will provide training and technical assistance to small pwss to increase technical, managerial, and financial capacity, improve their ability to achieve and maintain sdwa compliance, and increase access to safe drinking water. Training specialists will provide training classes with approved continuing education units (ceus) to promote operator licensure and improve workforce development - key components of PWS sustainability. This program will provide hands-on, onsite TA and in-person/hybrid training courses for operators, managers, and decision-makers associated with small pwss that serve populations of under 10,000 people in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities.subrecipient:per the project proposal, subawards will be use to support state offices/affiliates for training and on-site assistance activities. Outcomes:national rural water association will present trainings and provide technical assistance on topics relevant to the safe drinking water act and national primary drinking water regulations compliance, and technical, managerial, and financial capacity. Outcomes include: - a strengthened workforce at public water systems (PWS) through an increase in the knowledge and competency of small PWS operators and decision-makers in a managerial, operational, and financial capacity. - improved drinking water quality and better protection of public health, reflected in an increased number of small pwss in compliance with safe drinking water act (sdwa) requirements and national primary drinking water regulations. - an increased level of financial capacity, measured by an increase in the number of small pwss accessing funds through dwsrfs. - a measurable improvement in the performance of small pwss where operational changes or other recommendations were implemented following a system diagnostic evaluation. - an increase in the knowledge and competency of small PWS operators and decision-makers in regulatory requirements and effective compliance strategies. - an increased level of emergency preparedness and resiliency in small pwss from completing risk and resilience assessments. - an increased number of small systems with health-based reporting and monitoring violations returning to compliance. - improved knowledge and competency of small PWS operators, leading to sdwa compliance or making substantial progress toward compliance. - increased strength and sustainability of the water industry workforce as measured by an increase in the number of operators obtaining and maintaining certification. - measurable progress toward environmental justice and equity goals, with an increased number of people receiving the same degree of protection from environmental health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work. Beneficiaries include: operators, managers, and decision-makers associated with small public water systems that serve populations of under 10,000 people in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities.