Rural Water EPA Funding Update

DEADLINE FEBRUARY 3^RD!

Rural Water EPA Funding Update

WRWA recently learned that the American Water Works Association (AWWA) in partnership with the Rural Community Action Program (RCAP) is bidding against Rural Water for an important training and technical assistance program communities in Wisconsin have come to expect and utilize for the past 25 years.

WRWA needs your help! You may be aware that the Wisconsin Rural Water Association and all other state rural water associations across the nation have lost critical funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA's budget was just signed into law (December 23, 2011). Congress included a new provision in EPA's budget for the agency to provide $15 million in technical assistance funding for non-profit organizations. Congress has typically specified (earmarked) the organizations to receive this funding. However, this year, with the Congressional prohibition on earmarks, Congress directed the EPA to prioritize the funding to organizations that are "supported by the majority of small community water systems."

This is intended to direct EPA to fund the technical assistance that is most beneficial to small communities (that is the policy objective of technical assistance funding). Rural Water technical assistance initiatives are designed to be most beneficial to you (small communities); they are on-site, peer-to-peer, non-regulatory, free, often provided around the clock, overseen by small communities, etc. For your state association to be competitive to receive funding to continue your state's technical assistance, please provide documentation that they are supported by your community.

If you have not yet already sent us your letter, please declare your support of rural water EPA technical assistance by writing a letter to EPA. Do not send the letter to EPA, a WRWA delegation will be hand delivering it to your Congressperson on February 7th & 8th.

Click on the following links for a sample support letter  &  submittal information

Thank You!

WRWA Training Advisory Committee

The WRWA Training Advisory Committee met in Plover for the first in a series of three workshops designed to take WRWA Training to the next level of excellence - and into the future! Watch the WRWA website and the RURAL WATER E-NEWS for updates.

2012 Rural Water Annual Technical Conference

March 27-30, 2012   "The Future is Now" 
Hyatt / KI Convention Center
333 Main Street
Green Bay, WI

• -Hotel Information
• -Exhibitor Registration/Sponsorship Opportunities
• -2012 Exhibitor Booth Information
• -2012 Award Nomination Form
• -2012 Agenda
• -2012 Individual Registration
• -2012 Sportsman's Raffle
• -2012 Water Taste Test
• -2012 Water Conservation Poster Contest

WRWA Utility Management Conference

"UTILITY MANAGEMENT IN UNCERTAIN TIMES" – WRWA Annual Utility Management Conference was held in Stevens Point on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 6-7, 2011 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center.