by Southwest EFC | Jun 23, 2026 | Access to Water Funding Sources, Financial Management, Small Water Systems
Small water systems face many of the same regulatory requirements and financing complexities as larger utilities, but with fewer staff and resources to manage them. In this episode, we examine how finance professionals can effectively navigate the landscape of federal...
by Sami Stroud | Jun 12, 2026 | Community Engagement, Compliance with Drinking Water Regulations, Small Water Systems
Image generated by Grok, courtesy of Mike Rivera. Small and rural water system operators across the United States serve as the frontline guardians of public health, often with limited staff and budgets. When water quality issues or violations happen, the federal...
by Southwest EFC | Jun 9, 2026 | Compliance with Drinking Water Regulations, PFAS, Small Water Systems
Episode Summary: PFAS are increasingly being detected in drinking water systems across the country. In this episode, Dr. Li explains what PFAS are, how they enter our water supplies, current regulations, risks to communities and private well owners as well as...
by Sami Stroud | Apr 15, 2026 | Small Water Systems, Workforce Development
Small water systems are the backbone of safe and reliable drinking water for millions of Americans, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Yet behind the infrastructure lies a growing concern: the sustainability of the workforce needed to operate,...
by Sami Stroud | Mar 5, 2026 | Asset Management, Small Water Systems
For small water systems operating with limited staff and constrained budgets, managing infrastructure effectively is essential. For these systems, pipes, treatment plants, pumps, storage tanks, vehicles, and equipment that deliver safe drinking water – resources that...
by Sami Stroud | Feb 10, 2026 | Access to Wastewater Funding Sources, Access to Water Funding Sources, Access to Water/ Wastewater Funding Sources, Additional Support Organizations, Managerial & Financial Leadership, Small Water Systems
Staff at rural, small, and tribal (RST) water utilities often operate in remote, hard-to-reach areas, and face aging infrastructure with limited financial resources. These challenges threaten their core mission of providing safe, reliable, and affordable water...
