Other Training and Technical Assistance for Tribes

EPA Regional Offices help public water systems meet federal health-based standards to safeguard tribal health. Where EPA is the primacy agency, it implements the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulations and program requirements on tribal lands.

Additionally, EPA helps build capacity for public water systems by providing technical assistance as part of the Tribal Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) program. Many Regions also contract with third party providers or fund circuit rider programs to enable other qualified persons to provide technical assistance and training to tribes.

For more information on how EPA can help provide technical assistance to your tribal public water system please contact your Regional Tribal Drinking Water Direct Implementation Coordinator.

EPA provides drinking water training resources to ensure that utility staff and managers operate systems effectively, efficiently and in compliance with the SDWA. Below are links to training available to tribal leaders, staff and community members:

• EPA's Office of Wastewater Management provides tribal leaders and utility staff with technical assistance and training in the area of wastewater management.
• EPA's Office of Water provides additional training courses that will help Indian tribes develop and implement water quality programs consistent with the CWA.
• EPA's American Indian Environmental Office hosts various types of training events throughout the year.

Interagency Coordination:

• Infrastructure Task Force in interagency coordination group established to improve access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in Indian country. The task force is composed of:

  • US Department of Agriculture (Rural Development - USDA-RD);

  • US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);

  • US Department of Health and Human Services through the Indian Health Service;

  • US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and 

  • US Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs - BIA).

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Some additional technical assistance providers are listed below:

• Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)- national network of nonprofit organizations working to ensure that rural and small communities throughout the United States have access to safe drinking water and sanitary wastewater disposal. The six regional RCAPs, with its partners or affiliates, provide a variety of programs in their regions to accomplish this goal. This includes:
  • Direct training and technical assistance;
  • Leveraging millions of dollars to assist communities develop; and
  • Improving their water and wastewater systems.
• Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA)- provides member Tribes with technical assistance to improve drinking water and wastewater compliance of their utilities with the SDWA and Clean Water Act (CWA).
• United South and Eastern Tribes (USET)- provides member Tribes on-site technical support and training.
• Native American Water Association (NAWA)- national non-profit, 501 (c)(6) organization founded to provide tribal water and wastewater operators, managers, utility commissions and tribal leadership with continued training and technical assistance.  This helps strengthen tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and protects human health and the environment in Indian country.
• Small Water Supply.org- non-profit organization that catalogs resources and information for small community water and wastewater operators.
• Environmental Finance Centers Network (EFCN)- provides state and local officials and small businesses with:
  • Advisory services;
  • Education;
  • Publications;
  • Training;
  • Technical assistance; and
  • Analyses on financing alternatives.
    The EFC network currently includes:
    • University of Southern Maine;
    • Syracuse University;
    • University of Maryland;
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
    • University of Louisville;
    • Cleveland State University;
    • University of New Mexico;
    • Wichita State University;
    • Dominican University; and
    • Boise State University.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)- nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of water quality and supply.
• National Rural Water Association (NRWA)- non-profit federation of State Rural Water Associations. NRWA's mission is to provide support services to member systems.