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Newsletter #144 for January 2026 |
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EPA Announces Funding for New Mexico Tribes |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding a total $297,375 to the Pueblo of Tesuque and $318,634 to the Pueblo of Taos to address environmental priorities within each of the Pueblo’s territories. These funds are being provided through EPA’s Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) and Clean Water Act (CWA) grants.
The Indian Environmental GAP is a resource for tribal grantees to plan, develop, and establish internal capacity with the expected outcome to assume environmental regulatory functions and programs currently administered by EPA. The CWA grant programs offer organizations and tribes the opportunity of receiving funding to develop water quality projects and ensuring critical water infrastructure is maintained.
The Pueblo of Tesuque's funding will be used to ensure the protection and improvement of the water quality in the tribe’s rivers, lakes, streams, groundwater, and other waterbodies. The Pueblo will conduct surface water quality monitoring in accordance with Tesuque’s Water Quality Standards (WQS), continue community outreach, ensure underground storage tank compliance and monitor surface water quality within the Pueblo’s borders.
The Pueblo of Taos will use this funding to conduct community outreach to inform tribal members of updates to the environmental program, create an emissions inventory for winter and summer time periods to aid understanding of what emissions could be impacting the Pueblo, review the process for air monitoring, decrease non-point pollution, review and maintain surface water quality monitoring operations, coordinate monitoring efforts with on-the-ground land management activities and grow the Tribal Water Quality Program in accordance with tribal needs. |
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VirCon 2026 is next month! Register today. |
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This free, virtual training conference offers drinking water operators a chance to learn more about timely topics, improve fundamental skills, and get support for specific challenges while earning up to 12 hours of CEU credit.
While there is no substitute for in-person training, this online event was created to specifically target operators of small and rural public water systems who may not have the means or ability to travel. Conference instructors are technical assistance providers from the RCAP network.
CEU Information
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Currently pre-approved in: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington
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Currently acceptable in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Idaho, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia
Approval in process for all other jurisdictions!
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Missed our last webinar? Watch the recording! |
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Essential Safety Resources for Wastewater Operators
This webinar recording will explore practical resources to help wastewater operators stay safe in their day to day to work as well as in less common and unexpected scenarios. Plus, participants will learn how to use our search tools at WaterOperator.org to find additional resources and training events.
This webinar series from WaterOperator.org covers topics relevant to wastewater operators, including funding, asset management, compliance, and water quality.
For informational purposes only. We are unable to offer certificates for watching a video recording.
Recordings of our previous webinars:
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Tap Talk Episode 61
Exploring Septic System Best Practices
In this episode, Jennifer and Steve welcomed Jim Starbard and Andrew Evans, technical assistance providers at RCAP Solutions, to the show to discuss some of stories of onsite wastewater and septic system challenges they have faced in Massachusetts and around New England. Sometimes, even the most basic septic system guidance — like regularly pumping tanks and not flushing any sort of wipe — can make a huge difference in the health of a system, its users, and the surrounding environment! |
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Coharie Tribe Reclaimed Their River And Found An Ancient Tree
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"A 2,600-year-old bald cypress tree stands quietly in North Carolina’s Three Sisters Swamp—older than the Roman Empire, untouched by time, and protected by a resurgent tribal community.
In this powerful episode, Travis Loop joins members of the Coharie Tribe on a World Water Day paddle through their ancestral waters on the Black River. Guided by Kullen Bell and other tribal leaders, the journey reveals a deep cultural revival grounded in environmental stewardship. The conversation explores the tribe’s restoration of forgotten waterways, their discovery of a 650-year-old dugout canoe, and the creation of a paddling trail that reconnects people to place. Bell also discusses the Great Coharie River Initiative and how community action has led to visibility, funding, and a new generation of programs."
Find more videos like this on waterloop's YouTube Channel. |
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Featured Events for Tribal Water Systems |
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Southern Nevada & Northern Arizona NAWMA Workshop
January 20, 2026 | Flagstaff, AZ
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Join RCAC for a free workshop to discuss the latest EPA Requirements!
Tribal Public Water Utilities are considered tribal departments that are under the regulatory authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition to their routine duties of overseeing a public water system, water operators are also responsible for the administrative tasks required to maintain compliance with EPA requirements. These administrative duties include, but are not limited to, compliance reporting, EPA-mandated sampling requirements, and corrective action plans. It is vital for water operators to stay up to date with the latest EPA requirements for their water systems to ensure compliance with established regulatory standards. |
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Tribal Drinking Water Overview
January 22, 2026 | West Wendover, NV
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
This free workshop is designed to provide an overview of small drinking water systems, from treatment to distribution. Focused on small systems and scattered sites, this training offers operators, managers, and board members a high-level perspective of water treatment methods, facility operations, treatment equipment, distribution system components, distribution system maintenance, safety, and management considerations such as resiliency and staff-retention planning.
Many small and tribal system staff are expected to wear “all the hats,” and must be familiar with operation, maintenance, and repair concerns throughout the system. This training offers practical basics to familiarize staff with the big picture of their small or tribal drinking water systems. |
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Recent Blog Posts at WaterOperator.org |
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Essential Safety Resources for Wastewater Operators
Read Here » |
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Preparing for LCRI Compliance: Key Insights from NRWA
Read Here »
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Community Engagement Resources for Wastewater Utilities
Read Here »
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Groundwater & Well Care for Public Water Systems is a free online course from WaterOperator.org. Certificates are provided and the course is currently pre-approved for 2 hours continuing education credit in a number of states.
Click here to learn more. |
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WaterOperator.org is a free service, grant-funded to support small community water and wastewater operators with comprehensive resources and information in one easy-to-use place. We also serve the 800+ training, primacy, and technical service organizations, by helping operators get to their information. We aren't selling or advertising anything. Call us at 1-866-522-2681 for assistance. |
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Visit our other websites: |
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View archive of past issues. | Click here to unsubscribe | Sent to: _t.e.s.t_@example.com
Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States |
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