Nrwa will implement a two-year training and technical assistance (t/TA) program for tribal, small, and rural public water systems (PWS) to promote compliance with the safe drinking water act (sdwa)…

The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) received a $9.999 million Project Grant awarded on August 1, 2025, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water under the Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants program (CFDA 66.424). Over the two-year performance period ending July 31, 2027, NRWA will implement a comprehensive training and technical assistance program leveraging its network of state affiliates and full-time training specialists to serve tribal, small, and rural public water systems (PWS) across all 50 states, tribal communities, and U.S. territories.

The program delivers in-person classroom training sessions and on-site technical assistance to water system operators and decision-makers, focusing on Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) compliance and long-term sustainability. Key service offerings include training on regulatory requirements (Ground Water Rule, Disinfectant Byproducts Rules, Revised Total Coliform Rule, and Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), operator certification courses providing continuing education units (CEUs), and capacity-building in technical, managerial, and financial areas. Additionally, NRWA provides diagnostic troubleshooting, lead service line inventory guidance, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) application assistance, resilience and risk assessments, emergency response planning, climate disaster preparedness, and cybersecurity threat response—with particular emphasis on serving disadvantaged and underserved communities.

Nrwa will implement a two-year training and technical assistance (t/TA) program for tribal, small, and rural public water systems (PWS) to promote compliance with the safe drinking water act (sdwa) and improve capacity for achieving long-term sustainability. This program is based on the circuit rider model and will use nrwa's fully staffed state affiliates to deploy full-time training specialists (specialists) to provide t/TA in all 50 states, tribal communities, and U.S. Territories. Activities:specialists will provide classes to operators and decision-makers to build technical, managerial, and financial capacity, including assistance with applying for dwsrf and strengthening resiliency to natural/manmade disasters and malevolent acts. Specialists will provide in-person classroom training sessions for tribal, small, and rural PWS operators and decision-makers. Nrwa training classes will include topics such as the ground water rule, disinfectant byproducts rules, revised total coliform rule, lcrr, creating resilient water utilities, risk and resilience assessments, emergency response plans, identifying potential funding sources (e.g., dwsrf), and addressing microbial, nitrate/nitrite, arsenic, radionuclides, and disinfection byproducts contamination. Training courses will include operator certification topics to help PWS operators earn ceus and obtain/maintain certification. Additionally, nrwa will provide t/TA that includes but not limited to: (1) diagnosing and troubleshooting system operational and compliance related issues; (2) providing guidance on lcrr and topics related to lead in the water, including TA for LSL inventories and removal; (3) identifying needs and providing assistance for dwsrf applications; (4) helping systems prepare for climate related disasters; (5) identifying and responding to natural disasters and cybersecurity threats; (6) developing risk and resiliency assessments and emergency response plans, especially systems serving populations fewer than 3,300 that are not required to certify these plans but can receive CEU credit for voluntary action; (7) solutions to address microbial, nitrate/nitrite, arsenic, radionuclides, PFAS, disinfection byproducts contamination, and other emerging contaminants; (8) identifying cost effective solutions; and (8) assisting communities in preparing for the awia rras and erps, which are due during this program period. Subrecipient:activiities inmplemented through subawards include staff training and on-site t/TA in each state; training and technical assistance in U.S. Territories.outcomes:expected outcomes include: key anticipated environmental outcomes - increased knowledge and competency of small PWS operators in the areas of regulatory requirements and water system operations; - increased knowledge and competency of small PWS operators in their ability to plan for and respond to threats from natural disasters and malevolent acts; - increased number of communities submitting dwsrf applications to improve infrastructure; - improved drinking water quality and public health among small and rural communities, reflected in an increased number of pwss in compliance with sdwa and npdwr; and - increased number of tribal communities in compliance with health-based standards. Intended beneficiaries include: operators, managers, and decision-makers. Deliverables will include focus stories and provision of training and technical assistance.