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Register now for April NAWMA meetings

March 25, 2013

Deborah Patton, RCAC
(623) 486-0860
Email: dpatton@rcac.org

To better serve tribes, RCAC with funding from the USEPA catalyzed formation of the Native American Water Masters Association (NAWMA). RCAC facilitates multiple NAWMA quarterly meetings that bring together regional tribal staff, decision makers and agencies to solve common drinking water/wastewater system issues. Each NAWMA provides relevant training and the opportunity for peer to peer networking between tribal nations.   

“Small tribal water systems need the assistance and professional support that RCAC provides to continue our efforts to provide clean and safe drinking water to our tribe and set us on a path toward sustainability,” said Robert Marquez, tribal chairman, Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California.

A special Tribal Utility Governance (TUG) program will be offered for a limited time at each NAWMA meeting and operators and decision makers are encouraged to come. Focus will be on building managerial and financial capacity within each tribal organization. 

The next training will take place on April 24 in various locations.

For more information on meeting locations and registration, visit RCAC’s website at: http://www.rcac.org/doc.aspx?1057

Watch this video for participant responses to NAWMA forums.

RCAC will issue aCertificate of CompletionforPrinciples of Utility Management for Tribes (PUMT)after a participant completes all three NAWMA TUG training events (including the pre/posttest).  Many states have already approved hours, for operators attending, to be counted toward their certification renewal.  Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) (Tribal Certification Provider) and RCAC have completed the first phase of formulating the eligibility requirements and criteria for the PUMT Certificate,  and is now working through the process of developing a Tribal Utility Management path, which would involve a type of certification in the area of tribal utility management.

The PUMT training is open to any decision maker, support staff, Utility Manager, operator, board member or interested person that would benefit from a better understanding of Tribal utility management and finance.

“Without the assistance provided by RCAC we would have had a difficult time addressing our recent drinking water and wastewater issues on our reservation,” said Gabriella Rubalcava, environmental assistant, Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians.

In 1995, RCAC worked with Southern Californian Tribes to form the first NAWMA group. The Association has expanded with the addition of NAWMA groups in Northern California and Central California. In recognition of the effectiveness of this model, EPA recently awarded RCAC a contract to replicate the California NAWMA model in EPA Region 6 (New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma) and Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and 27 tribal nations).

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