KRWA Wins NRWA 2025 Outstanding Achievement in Member Services Award
The Kentucky Rural Water Association (KRWA) is honored to receive the 2025 Outstanding Achievement in Member Services Award from the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). Presented at the 2025 WaterPro Conference in New Orleans, this award recognizes KRWA’s longstanding commitment to supporting Kentucky’s water and wastewater utilities through innovative, hands-on member services.
For over 14 years, KRWA’s Compliance Program has empowered small and rural water systems by simplifying the complexities of regulatory compliance. The program offers a comprehensive suite of services, including Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) development and access, Public Notice assistance, Monitoring Plan and Sampling Schedule support, customized reporting tools, data tracking and trending, and proactive strategies to help utilities avoid Notices of Violation.
With 211 participating utilities—representing 63% of the state’s public water systems—the program has delivered over $11.7 million in documented cost savings since its inception. Beyond the financial benefits, it has become a trusted partner to utilities, offering tailored solutions that provide clarity, consistency, and confidence in navigating regulatory requirements.
A cornerstone of the program’s success is KRWA’s custom-designed recordkeeping package, a multi-functional database system that helps utilities monitor compliance, track operational data, and automatically generate CCRs. Today, approximately 72% of Kentucky’s public water systems rely on this tool as a key component of their compliance strategies.
The KRWA Compliance Team works closely with each utility, acting as an extension of their staff by coordinating with contract laboratories, liaising with state regulatory agencies, and developing strategies tailored to each utility’s size, structure, and operational needs. The program’s impact has even reached beyond Kentucky, as KRWA shares its recordkeeping package and guidance with other state rural water associations seeking to implement similar programs.
“The success of our Compliance Program reflects the dedication of our entire team and our commitment to helping utilities operate efficiently, reduce violations, and strengthen public health protections,” said Scott Young, KRWA Executive Director. “This award is a recognition of the collective effort to support rural water systems across the state and beyond.”
This award highlights how hands-on, strategic member services can strengthen utilities, support communities, and advance the rural water sector.