Mark your calendars!
It is never too early to start planning! Next year we will be in Verona, NY at The Turning Stone Resort. This will be a 3-day event (Monday, May 18, 2026 – Wednesday, May 20, 2026).

Online booth sales will open in February. Further details will be posted on the website in December.

Are you interested in being a presenter? If so, please electronically complete the Call For Presentation request form and return to nyrwa@nyruralwater.org by October 1, 2025, to be considered for next year's conference.

Sponsorship Opportunities are available, if interested please complete the Sponsorship Form with your selection and email to Kimberly Bennett.

Thank you all again for your support!

The Presidential Administration has initiated action in the 2026 Federal Budget to eliminate USDA water and wastewater funding, including both their loan & grant programs and also their training and technical assistance programs.

What does this mean? If approved by Congress, funds dedicated to rural water/wastewater systems for improvement projects, waterline extensions, new town water districts, etc…would be completely eliminated. USDA is the only agency to provide funding exclusively for rural water & wastewater communities (communities that have 20,000 or less population for funding purposes). The proposed funding cuts would also eliminate funding for technical assistance and training. Our Circuit Rider, Wastewater Technician, Energy Efficiency Technician, and Apprenticeship Training programs would also be eliminated.

What Do We Need to Do? We need everyone’s help in telling Congress not to accept these crucial funding cuts which have been proposed. Congress needs to hear from you, and in particular, Republican Members of the House of Representatives. These cuts would not only negatively impact water and wastewater systems, but also negatively impact equipment suppliers, engineering firms, and contractors.

How Can I Help? Please take the pledge to support rural development here: Pledge — Rural Water Strong and share this pledge with everyone you know, friends, family, neighbors, etc…this is urgent for the continuation of these funds. Also, visit www.ruralwaterstrong.org and consider making a short video and uploading it to Submit Testimonial Videos — Rural Water Strong.

Please do not think this is a scare tactic. This is real, and we need your help to ensure future funding for rural America! Thank You!

Have you received water and/or wastewater technical assistance from NYRWA? Have you attended NYRWA in-person or web-based training? Has your system benefited from a Source Water Protection Plan or Energy Efficiency Assessment from NYRWA? If so, WE NEED YOUR HELP! NYRWA is respectfully asking our system members to draft and submit letters of support for the services you have received. These letters are crucial, so we can deliver your message to our elected representatives that more needs to be done to fund water and wastewater infrastructure. Please, we need as many members as possible to draft the support letters on your letterhead and mail to our office at:

NYRWA, Inc.
PO Box 487
Claverack, NY 12513

Let's make this letter-writing campaign a huge success! Please participate. We thank you in advance for your consideration.

Don't have time to spend traveling to sit in a class all day? The best place to receive renewal web-based training is at home or work, whichever your schedule allows. You can work at your own pace. SunCoast Learning Systems offers some great topics that will fit your certification requirement needs. Online courses are New York State-approved and offer the flexibility and convenience you are looking for. For more information, call 1-800-269-1181 or visit https://www.suncoastlearning.com/courses/ny.

• Clinton Correctional Facility
• Laberge Group
• UDig NY

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