Idaho Rural Water Association

Can't beat these weekend plans! IRWA participated in the Genesee Community Days parade with our portable water trailer (which we used for the first time a few years back in this very community!) Thanks for having us back for one of our favorite events, Genesee!

While a large portion of the IRWA team trains at National Rural Water Association (NRWA) In-Service, a smaller force is taking on Association of Idaho Cities conference!

Your IRWA team is in Spokane, WA this week for National Rural Water Association (NRWA) In-Service training! The many training tracks offer new perspectives, essential training, and collaboration with our counterparts across the nation.

Joined by our colleagues at Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, BlueScope, Hilbers Construction, and Congressman Mike Simpson, IRWA broke ground on a new Emergency Services Storage Facility last week. At the groundbreaking, IRWA CEO Shelley Roberts, Congressman Mike Simpson, and DEQ’s Tyler Fortunati all spoke on the importance of safe drinking water and the importance of emergency response for Idaho’s smallest communities to get water back on line as soon as possible after a disaster. The storage facility will house transfer pumps, potable water tanks, generators, and more service equipment to be on standby in the event of a service-interrupting emergency. The facility will also enhance IRWA’s ability to provide critical hands on training for drinking water and wastewater operators. Construction on the facility is scheduled to finish this fall.

🎵We’ve been EVERYWHERE!🎶

This week, Idaho Rural Water Association circuit riders, source water protection specialists, and program coordinators are spread far and wide! From Emergency Response Training in Alabama to the Idaho Rural Success Summit in Pocatello to just taking care of business all over Idaho, you can find an IRWA team member just about EVERYWHERE!

As of March 2026, the IRWA Apprenticeship program has helped apprentices earn 156 licenses in water and wastewater operations. These apprentices are all future leaders of the Idaho water industry! Join them by learning more at the link in our bio today!

What a day for National Apprenticeship Week! Yesterday, IRWA was thrilled to talk to and hear from our friends across the state and nation - ranging from Idaho high school students looking for viable career pathways to Governor Brad Little announcing Idaho's bright future with apprenticeships and even friends from U.S. Department of Labor! With partners across the state and nation, Idaho apprentices are looking forward to success!