RCAP Advances Rural Water Priorities During Water Week 2026

RCAP Advances Rural Water Priorities During Water Week 2026

This April, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) joined partners in Washington D.C. for Water Week to elevate the needs of small, rural and Tribal communities and advance solutions to strengthen water infrastructure nationwide. RCAP staff and leadership participated in discussions on regionalization, workforce development and the critical role rural water plays in the broader national conversation.

NRWA Rural Water Policy Forum: Regionalization, Policy and a Historic Partnership

RCAP CEO, Olga Morales-Pate, participated in National Rural Water Association’s (NRWA) Rural Water Policy Forum, joining NRWA CEO, Matt Holmes, for a discussion on regionalization through a community-led lens. Their conversation built directly on the organizations’ joint white paper, “Regional Partnership Program: A Community-Led Approach,” which examined how community-led regional collaboration, supported by trusted technical assistance providers, can strengthen long-term sustainability and preserve community identity.

Following Olga and Matt’s discussion was a panel discussion, “Regionalization Done Right,” where three speakers shared their on-the-ground experiences implementing regionalization in their communities. Panelists included Lee Koehn, Manager of Black Bayou Water Association, Kirby Mayfield, CEO of Mississippi Rural Water Association, and Martin Lopez, General Manager of Lower Rio Grande Public Water Works Authority. Martin’s participation was of particular note for RCAP, as a RCAP regional partner, Rural Community Assistance Corporation, has worked with the Lower Rio Grande community for years. His perspective brought important regional and partnership context to the conversation.

RCAP Champions the Importance of Rural Water Needs

RCAP Director of Government Affairs, Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, participated in the US Water Alliance/Water Agency Leaders Alliance-hosted panel, Economic Engine: Federal Partnerships, Local Impact, which opened with remarks from Congressmen Eric Sorensen and Greg Stanton. Jacqueline underscored how rural water is a national issue, and a critical piece of the water infrastructure conversation. The panel reinforced that rural communities are not a footnote in water discussions; they are central to it.

The Importance of Water Workforce Development

RCAP Director of Capacity Development & Outreach, Lisa Fought, participated in a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Association of Clean Water Agencies-hosted panel on innovative water infrastructure workforce development, moderated by EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, Jess Kramer. Lisa discussed the importance of recruiting and maintaining workers in an industry that is so vital to the country and expressed RCAP’s enthusiasm to continue partnering with the EPA to provide meaningful learning and development opportunities for all sectors of the water workforce.

RCAP was selected for the EPA’s Innovative Water Workforce Development Grant Program, which supports expanding career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector. Through this program, RCAP provides leadership development, occupational training, mentoring and cross-training programs that support career advancement.

Looking Ahead

Water Week 2026 provided an opportunity to bring together partners, share ideas and continue building momentum around equitable access to water. As federal and partner conversations continue, RCAP remains focused on ensuring rural communities have the tools, resources and support needed to deliver safe and reliable water services.