Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated Applauds EPA Initiative to Strengthen Technical Assistance for Water Systems
For Immediate Release
Contact: Coye Gerald
Communications Manager
Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated Applauds EPA Initiative to Strengthen Technical Assistance for Water Systems
RCAP supports renewed federal ‘back-to-basics’ focus on technical assistance for rural communities
Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2026) – The Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) today expressed support for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s newly announced Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) initiative. This back-to-basics program aims to strengthen support for drinking water and wastewater systems and ensure communities across the country have access to clean and safe water.
RealWaterTA will focus on aligning technical assistance efforts with proven approaches that help water systems address operational, financial and workforce challenges while protecting public health and ensuring compliance with federal water policies. The effort is expected to have a significant impact for smaller and rural water systems, which often face unique capacity and resource barriers.
“The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) welcomes Assistant Administrator Kramer’s RealWaterTA initiative and the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s renewed ‘back-to-basics’ approach to technical assistance for water and wastewater systems,” said Olga Morales-Pate, RCAP CEO. “We never left the fundamentals. For more than 50 years, our locally based Technical Assistance Providers have helped small, rural, and Tribal systems strengthen compliance and build lasting capacity. We stand ready to serve as a key implementation partner for RealWaterTA and help translate this vision into measurable results on the ground.”
RCAP works with rural and Tribal communities across the nation to strengthen water and wastewater systems through technical assistance, training and on-the-ground support. Through its national network of regional partners, the organization helps communities remain in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act, navigate federal funding programs, plan infrastructure improvements and build the local capacity needed to sustain essential water services. The organization looks forward to continuing its collaboration with EPA and other partners to ensure rural systems can access the resources and support needed.
To learn more about RCAP’s mission and impact, visit www.rcap.org.
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About Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP)
The Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) is a national network of nonprofit partners working to provide technical assistance, training, resources, and support to rural communities across every state, the U.S. territories, and Tribal lands. Through RCAP’s regional partners, more than 400 technical assistance providers (TAPs) build long-term, trusted relationships with thousands of communities across the country.
