Rural Water Rally 2026

California Rural Water Association (CRWA) board members and staff visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., this February to advocate for rural water programs. Their efforts focused on supporting USDA and EPA loan and grant funding, as well as advancing technical assistance and apprenticeship initiatives. These programs are essential for rural communities that must meet the same regulatory standards as larger districts but often do so with limited resources and technical capacity.

 

Pictured (L-R): Ruby Brungess, Teresa Tanaka, Congressman Harder, Debra Sedwick, and Paul Olmsted.

CRWA’s 2026 meetings were highly positive, marked by strong engagement and consistent support across congressional offices. Many representatives and staff members were already familiar with CRWA’s efforts—particularly the Circuit Rider program, Apprenticeship initiatives, cybersecurity support, and source water protection. Several offices expressed interest in assisting with appropriations, signing letters of support, or reviewing legislative proposals.

 

Pictured (L-R): Dustin Hardwick, Congressman Obernolte, and Doug Henrichs.

Key themes raised during discussions included cybersecurity challenges, consolidation issues, land-use concerns affecting resource centers, and the need for targeted assistance in specific communities. Overall, CRWA observed broad bipartisan support for California’s rural water and wastewater systems.

CRWA will continue its outreach throughout the appropriations cycle to help secure funding for these critical programs through FY2027.

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