Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water

The Alaska Municipal League (AML) is a non-profit, non-partisan, statewide membership organization serving 165 cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities across Alaska. AML provides services and support that augment and build capacity, share information and best practices, and advocate for local benefits.

Educational

AML hosts annual conferences, provides email communications, and produces publications to share resources, opportunities, and exchange ideas.

Financial

AML offers members access to shared services, which provide affordable routes for municipalities to build their capacity. Services include tools for financial success, effective operations, and employee benefits. Additionally, AML has focused efforts on developing projects and securing funding to support community resilience, energy security and affordability, and transportation and land use.

Managerial

AML has an Asset Management Learning Hub which provides Alaska’s municipal, tribal, and community leaders with tools and trainings to optimize asset management practices, enhance service delivery, and contribute to the fiscal sustainability of Alaska’s communities.

• Alaska Municipal League Webpage - https://www.akml.org/

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) is a non-profit Tribal health organization that provides comprehensive medical, wellness, and environmental health services for Alaska Native communities across Alaska.

Financial

Assisted Billing

Assisted Billing collects funds on your community’s behalf, minus a monthly service fee, which are electronically transferred to your community to operate your water and wastewater and/or electric utility system. Assisted Billing can generate invoices, collect and record customer payments and share customer account information with the community. They are also able to provide delinquent and shut off lists of non-paying customers. If requested, Assisted Billing can help perform a rate study and recommend rates for your community. While billing assistance does not solve best practice scores it can improve the revenue and budget scoring sections of a community’s score.

Managerial

ARUC

ARUC also provides support to utility owners with water/sewer budgeting, revenue collection, reserve account building, monthly utility billing, utility expense accounting, parts ordering, and monthly utility operations reporting.

Technical

ANTHC's Division of Environmental Health and Engineering (DEHE) manages several vital engineering and utility support programs. These initiatives focus on the planning, construction, and long-term sustainability of clean water and sanitation systems in rural Alaska.

Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC)

Provides operators with remote operations and maintenance (O&M) troubleshooting and support, and occasional on-site O&M technical support and training as funding is available. ARUC also provides support to utility owners with water/sewer budgeting, revenue collection, reserve account building, monthly utility billing, utility expense accounting, parts ordering, and monthly utility operations reporting.

Tribal Utility Support (TUS)

Supports utility owners and operators by providing system specific remote and on-site training and technical support, O&M manuals with Preventative Maintenance Plans for ANTHC construction projects, emergency support in partnership with Remote Maintenance Workers, remote monitoring system maintenance and support, and assistance with implementation of small projects such as equipment upgrades, retrofits, and energy efficiency.

• ANTHC Rural Utility Support - https://anthc.org/environmental-health-engineering/rural-utility-support/

The Alaska Rural Water Association is a non-profit state affiliate of the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) that provides training, technical assistance, resources, and support to water and wastewater systems and operators throughout Alaska.

Educational

ARWA provides water and wastewater operators an opportunity to obtain their full 30 hours of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) approved CEU credits for license renewal annually at the ARWA Annual Training Conference in Anchorage. ARWA also provides formal wastewater training, including operator certification, at various locations throughout the state.

Technical

ARWA supports water and wastewater systems (under 10,000 population) with onsite technical assistance that includes leak detection as well as completion of sanitary surveys and CCRs.

• Alaska Rural Water Association Webpage - https://arwa.org/

The Alaska Water Wastewater Management Association (AWWMA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship of the environment and the protection of public health. 

Educational

Monthly technical presentations are held online, and operators can earn 0.1 CEU for attendance. AWWMA also hosts annual conferences providing opportunities to hear from experts, explore new technology, and attend workshops concerning various aspects of the water industry. Operators can also earn CEUs for conference attendance at 0.1 CEU/hour.

• Alaska Water Wastewater Management Association Webpage - https://awwma.com/

Financial

The Denali Commission is an independent federal agency designed to provide critical utilities, infrastructure, and economic support throughout Alaska. With the creation of the Denali Commission, Congress acknowledged the need for increased inter-agency cooperation and focus on Alaska’s remote communities. The Denali Commission offers grant opportunities for sanitation infrastructure projects on an ad hoc basis. Please check the website for updates.

• Denali Commission Webpage - https://denali.gov/

In 1996, Congress authorized the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create the Alaska Native Villages and Rural Communities Grant (ANV) program, which is codified in 33 U.S.C. § 1263a.

Financial

The ANV program assists communities with the construction of new or improved wastewater and drinking water systems. Communities can also use the funding for training and technical assistance in system operations and maintenance. EPA provides funds to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to address the needs of rural and native Alaska communities. The DEC, in turn, administers these funds through its Village Safe Water (VSW) program.

• Alaska Native Villages and Rural Communities Grant Program Webpage - https://www.epa.gov/small-and-rural-wastewater-systems/alaska-native-villages-and-rural-communities-water-grant-program

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Financial

IHS provides project funds through the Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS), which is a centralized, nationwide database and inventory used to document, rank, and prioritize water, sewer, and solid waste deficiencies in Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) communities. Tier 1 projects compete each year for limited federally appropriated IHS Regular funds for design and construction activities serving AN/AI homes. IHS provides the federal oversight for these projects. IHS may also enter into inter-agency agreements with other federal agencies to accept funding contributions for water and wastewater projects (e.g., EPA Tribal Set-Aside funds). These funds are transferred to ANTHC to implement the projects.

• Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction (DSFC) - https://www.ihs.gov/dsfc/
• Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction (DSFC) Projects - https://dsfc-ihs-gis.hub.arcgis.com/

The Operator Certification and Training Program (OpCert) is a state-funded initiative run by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The mission of OpCert Program is to ensure that the customers of Alaskan public water systems and public and private wastewater systems are provided with an adequate supply of safe, potable drinking water, are confident that their water is safe to drink, are assured that wastewater is properly treated and discharged into Alaskan waters, and that the operators are trained and certified as well as have the knowledge and understanding of public health reasons for drinking water and wastewater discharge standards.

Educational

OpCert maintains the Alaska Training Coalition Calendar | AK Dept. of Environmental Conservation page which lists upcoming trainings and courses that can be taken by Water Operators and other individuals to obtain continuing education credits, qualify to take exams to advance obtain or advance levels of Water Treatment Certification, and gain knowledge regarding funding, conferences, or other relevant information.

• Operator Certification Program Webpage - https://dec.alaska.gov/water/operator-certification/

The Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) is a non-profit organization. Their work includes environmental infrastructure (water, wastewater and solid waste facilities); affordable housing development; economic and leadership development; and community development finance.

RCAC offers environmental assistance to small municipal and nonprofit water systems, wastewater systems and solid waste management programs in 11 western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. They are one of six regional agencies that, together, serve the entire United States. These six organizations make up the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) network.

Educational

RCAC provides a comprehensive array of training for rural water, wastewater, and solid waste systems, with expertise spanning technical, financial, and administrative issues affecting rural community utilities. RCAC takes pride in its professional trainer team's capacity and effectiveness, maximizing audience participation to keep training relevant and memorable.

Financial

Maintaining adequate financial controls, setting appropriate billing rates, developing short- and long-term budgets, and financing capital improvement projects are all critical to ensure the financial sustainability of a utility. RCAC's staff have specialized knowledge to help systems achieve fiscal sustainability, supporting everything from rate setting to budgeting to financing capital improvement projects including grant and loan application assistance. As an EPA-designated Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for region 10 which includes Alaska, RCAC also provides training and tools to help small rural communities address funding for infrastructure needs.

Managerial

Successfully managing a rural utility can be one of the biggest challenges small communities face. RCAC’s technical assistance providers work with utility managers and governing bodies to develop their capacity to manage the business side of their utility, including local governance, policies and procedures, and human resources and personnel. This includes access to the RCAP Managerial and Financial Hub which is a valuable collection of resources on drinking water management and financial topics.

Technical

Small rural utilities face many challenges in operating and maintaining their systems, including finding and keeping certified operators, complying with state and federal regulations, and maintaining aging infrastructure. RCAC's technical assistance providers work with rural and tribal water and wastewater system operators to enhance their technical knowledge, obtain continuing education credits to maintain their certifications, and develop and implement strategies to improve water quality and protect public health.

• Rural Community Assistance Corporation Webpage - https://www.rcac.org/

Technical

The Remote Maintenance Worker (RMW) Program was established in 1981, and its mission is to protect state and federal capital investments in utility infrastructure while ensuring public health protection. The RMW Program is a state-funded initiative run by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to strengthen the capacity of rural Alaskan communities to operate and maintain their water and wastewater systems. It is funded by EPA and USDA Rural Development grants, with a 25% state match and operates through six regional health corporations (Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Bristol Bay Area Health Corp., Maniilaq Health Corporation, Norton Sound Health Corp., Tanana Chiefs Conference, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp.) and three DEC-employed RMWs. The RMW Program serves 200 communities statewide, including both tribal and municipal utilities. In recent years, RMWs have conducted hundreds of on-site trips, emergency responses, and training hours across the state. The program works closely with the Rural Utility Business Advisor (RUBA) program to address both technical and managerial capacity needs.

Services Provided:

• On-site training and preventive maintenance to extend system life.
• Emergency assistance to restore service after outages or damage.
• Certification support for operators and regional training courses.
• Maintain and loan emergency repair equipment to communities.

• Remote Maintenance Worker Program Webpage - https://dec.alaska.gov/water/remote-maintenance/

Rural Utility Business Advisor (RUBA) is a government-run advisory program operated by the State of Alaska's Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA), which is part of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. The goal of the RUBA program is to increase the managerial and financial capacity of rural water and wastewater utility providers. The program is advisory only; travel and assistance is at the request of local utility staff. RUBA offers capacity building assistance to rural utilities throughout the state. The ultimate goal is to ensure sustainable and safe water and wastewater utilities for all Alaskans.

Educational

The Local Government Assistance/Rural Utility Business Advisor (LGA/RUBA) program provides nine different 32-hour utility management training courses at various times throughout the year, give condensed trainings on-site with the community members, and technological assistance through online platforms. LGA/RUBA also provides weekly one-hour Local Government Informational Tutorials (LeGITs), covering different topics, available to all cities, tribes, community associations, and partner agencies.

Financial

LGA/RUBA staff work with utility staff, managers, and governing body members in making sure they have the financial capacity needed to run a sustainable water and wastewater utility. This includes assisting in the creation and adoption of a budget, implementing the budget through monthly financial reporting, and setting fair rates. RUBA sponsors a QuickBooks Help Line to assist with accounting needs.

Managerial

LGA/RUBA staff assist and advise clerks, administrators, and governing bodies on how to maintain/uphold their local laws; how to provide personnel management based on their personnel policies and procedures; how to create and maintain a strong organizational structure; the basics of being a clerk, elected official, and bookkeeper; and so much more! The Local Government Resource Desk is a first-stop-shop for municipal and tribal employees, elected officials, and the public looking for training, information, and assistance on local government operations in Alaska

• Rural Utility Business Advisor Webpage - https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/dcra/RuralUtilityBusinessAdvisorProgramRUBA.aspx

The Alaska State Revolving Fund is a government-run financial assistance program administered by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Water. It operates as a low-interest loan program (including the Alaska Clean Water Fund and the Alaska Drinking Water Fund) funded by federal EPA grants and state funds.

Financial

The Alaska State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program powers communities forward with affordable, flexible financing. Designed to help qualified recipients upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems—and tackle critical water-quality projects—the SRF Program delivers below-market rate loans with repayment terms of up to 30 years, unlocking substantial long-term savings. From initial planning and design to full-scale construction, the SRF Program supports every stage of the project. Eligible disadvantaged systems may also benefit from principal forgiveness, further reducing costs.

SRF offers multiple types of loans, including Micro Loans and Conventional SRF Loans. Micro Loans are available for up to $500,000 and Conventional Loans have no strict funding limit but are intended for larger projects over the microloan threshold. As part of each loan application review, the SRF Program conducts a Financial Capacity Assessment, oftentimes with the assistance of the Capacity Development Program, to ensure that the borrower has the capacity to repay debt as well as operate and maintain the system.

• State Revolving Fund Program Webpage - https://dec.alaska.gov/water/state-revolving-fund/

The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) provides financial and technical assistance to rural communities for developing, repairing, and improving water and waste infrastructure. These investments support drinking water and waste disposal systems, helping reduce utility costs, improve quality of life, and create economic opportunities in rural areas.

Financial

WEP provides funding for the construction of water and waste facilities in rural communities and is proud to be the only Federal program exclusively focused on rural water and waste infrastructure needs of rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less. WEP also provides funding to organizations that provide technical assistance and training to rural communities in relation to their water and waste activities. Rural Development offers a wide range of grant and loan opportunities, including:

• Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages: This program provides up to 75% grant funding to fix dire sanitation issues, such as households having to haul water or human waste, or areas facing recurring waterborne diseases. USDA partners with the DEC Village Safe Water (VSW) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) to administer these funds.
• Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant (Alaska): This program provides funding to qualified nonprofits (including Tribally owned nonprofits) in Alaska to create revolving loan funds or sub-grants. These funds go directly to individual homeowners to help them repair or construct individually owned household water wells or septic systems.
• Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants in Alaska: Available for Alaskan communities and Tribal lands experiencing emergencies or sudden disasters threatening their drinking water supply.
• Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants in Alaska: Offers up to $60,000 (or 75% of planning costs) to low-income Alaskan towns and Tribes to fund feasibility studies and early application designs.
• Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program in Alaska: Active across rural Alaska for populations of 10,000 or less. It covers drinking water, sanitary sewage, solid waste, and storm drainage.

An important piece of an application for infrastructure funding from the USDA RUS Water and Waste Disposal Program is the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). It outlines project needs, alternatives, environmental impacts, and estimated costs for community water or wastewater upgrades. You can prepare a PER for funding using the USDA Rural Development Water & Environmental Programs portal online.

Technical

Rural Development can assist with board training, utility management, financial management, operation/maintenance, water treatment, regulatory compliance, loan application and reporting, or disaster/emergency assistance.

• USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs Webpage - https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs

Village Safe Water (VSW) is a state program administered by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). It provides technical and financial support, grants, and project oversight to help rural and Alaska Native communities build and improve safe drinking water and wastewater systems.

Educational

All VSW-led construction projects include a training component for the local operator to ensure that they are familiar with the operation and maintenance of newly constructed sanitation infrastructure.

Financial

VSW is responsible for populating the Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) database, managed by the Indian Health Service (IHS), to document known sanitation needs in ANVs. This data is used by Congress, IHS, the Environmental Protection Agency, and others, to allocate sanitation system improvement funding. VSW assists ANVs and villages in seeking project funding for sanitation improvement projects through a variety of funding systems, including SDS and the State of Alaska’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding system.

Managerial

VSW engages with community leaders throughout the planning, design, and construction process to determine and implement the most appropriate solutions to their sanitation needs. Upon completion, the local governing body must take ownership of VSW-managed infrastructure improvement projects. To ensure a successful transition, VSW collaborates with local leadership and other technical assistance providers to assist the community in preparing for the long-term operation and maintenance of new infrastructure.

Technical

VSW partners with Alaska Native Villages (ANVs) and villages, as defined by Alaska Statute 46.07.080, to identify and document deficiencies in community water, wastewater, and solid waste systems. VSW assists ANVs and villages with pursuing project funding and provides project management support for funded sanitation infrastructure improvement projects.

• Village Safe Water Webpage - https://dec.alaska.gov/water/village-safe-water/