Alabama Rural Water Association

What Alabama Rural Water Association does

Alabama Rural Water Association is a nonprofit membership association founded in 1977 and based in Montgomery, Alabama. It represents water and wastewater systems serving rural communities and towns in Alabama, as well as commercial firms that support those systems. Its served base includes rural water utilities, municipalities, authorities, nonprofit corporations, cooperatives, and individual water and wastewater professionals.

ARWA is not a software company; it provides a portfolio of technical, compliance, training, financial, and member-benefit services. Core offerings include the Circuit Rider Program for on-site technical assistance, water and wastewater operator certification and CEH training, CCR preparation assistance, GPS/GIS-based asset management, energy audits, USDA-related source water support, wastewater support, a USDA-funded Revolving Loan Fund, ServLine water loss protection, workers’ compensation insurance, NexBillPay payment processing, salary survey data, custom compliance calendars, the Society of Water Professionals membership program, and Lead and Copper Rule compliance support through 120Water.

The organization’s business model is membership-led and service-based. Revenue sources include annual utility and associate membership dues, training and certification services, individual Society of Water Professionals dues, salary survey data, compliance calendar sales, Revolving Loan Fund processing fees and interest income, and referral or administrative economics from insurance and affinity programs. Go-to-market is direct and relationship-driven, using circuit riders, statewide training events, conferences, online training channels, and partnerships with NRWA, USDA Rural Development, ADEM, technology vendors, and other water-sector organizations.

Name

Alabama Rural Water Association

Legal name

Alabama Rural Water Association

Website

https://alruralwater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alabama Rural Water Association is a Montgomery-based nonprofit membership association serving Alabama rural water and wastewater utilities with technical assistance, operator training, compliance support, financing programs, insurance benefits, and technology-enabled services such as GPS/GIS asset management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Association Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Irrigation, Water & Energy Efficiency Operations Advisory (AFACAJAM), NRW Data Management & Water Balance (IWA Methodology, GIS/SCADA Integration, Digital Twins) (EUANAKAJ), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Wastewater management
• Operator certification training
• Rural water association
• Utility technical assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Montgomery

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ARWA generates revenue through membership fees from water and wastewater utilities and associate/commercial members who support rural water systems.
2. Training and Certification Services: Revenue from operator certification courses, test prep training, continuing education hours (CEH), and apprenticeship programs for water and wastewater professionals.
3. Salary Survey Data: Sale of salary survey data to members and non-members seeking benchmark compensation information for water and wastewater utility personnel.
4. Society of Water Professionals Membership: Individual membership dues at $75/year or $130 for two years, with benefits including free training, CEH management, insurance coverage, and discounts on ARWA services.
5. Revolving Loan Fund Administration: ARWA administers USDA-funded revolving loan fund for eligible utilities, earning processing fees (1.5% of loan amount) and interest income.
6. Insurance Programs: ARWA facilitates group insurance programs (workers compensation, water loss protection through ServLine, cancer expense, heart attack, accident protection, life insurance) earning referral/administrative fees.
7. Compliance Calendar Sales: Custom compliance calendars sold at $100 for first copy, $50 for additional copies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Alabama Rural Water Association is a non-profit membership association that provides on-site technical assistance, water and wastewater operator certification training, continuing education, financial programs (revolving loans and group insurance), and member services to rural water and wastewater utilities across Alabama. Its core delivery mechanisms are a Circuit Rider on-site technical assistance program, in-person and online training programs, a USDA-funded Revolving Loan Fund, and member benefit programs including ServLine water-loss protection and Workers' Compensation insurance.

Product overview

Alabama Rural Water Association is a non-profit membership organization representing water and wastewater systems in rural Alabama. It does not offer a single software product but rather provides a portfolio of services including technical training and operator certification programs, on-site Circuit Rider technical assistance, financial programs (revolving loans, insurance), and member benefit programs. Key service modules include: water/wastewater operator certification training, CCR preparation assistance, asset management with GPS/GIS technology, energy audits, ServLine water loss protection (via HomeServe), workers' comp insurance, NexBillPay online payment processing, salary survey data, compliance calendars, Society of Water Professionals membership, and the John A. Garrett Scholarship Fund. ARWA also partners with 120Water for Lead & Copper Rule compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Society of Water Professionals (SWP): A membership program offering benefits to water and wastewater professionals including free training, certification renewal assistance, continuing education hours management, and various insurance coverage options.

Products and services

• Circuit Rider Program
• Water & Wastewater Operator Certification Training
• Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

Quantifiable outcome

• State associations historically trained over 100,000 water and wastewater system personnel per year for three decades
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Rural Water Association (NRWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARWA is the Alabama state affiliate of NRWA, a non-profit federation of state rural water associations providing support to over 30,000 water and wastewater systems nationally. NRWA provides training programs, technical assistance, circuit rider programs, source water protection, and affinity programs including revolving loan fund, website design, insurance, and line/leak coverage.
• USDA Rural DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA Rural Development provides water and environmental programs including loans, grants, and loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste, and storm drainage facilities in rural areas. ARWA's Revolving Loan Fund was established with funds from USDA Rural Business Service.
• USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA-FSA works with agricultural producers and rural communities, with programs including the Conservation Reserve Program that protects groundwater and improves water quality through conservation practices.
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADECA administers federal Community Development Block Grant funds for municipalities and counties, supporting water system extensions and sewer collection lines for low/moderate income communities.
• Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADEM is Alabama's environmental regulatory agency overseeing water programs, operator certification, and the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
• Alabama Office of Water Resources (OWR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOWR at ADECA administers programs for river basin management, water supply assistance, water conservation, flood mapping, and the National Flood Insurance Program.
• Alabama 811minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlabama 811 is the state's One-Call Notification System for underground damage prevention, required for all underground utility owners under SB 315 (2019).
• Geological Survey of AlabamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSA provides natural resource data gathering and research, including groundwater assessment programs relevant to water system planning.
• NexBillPaycoreTechnology or IntegrationNexBillPay provides ARWA members with payment processing and collection services at little or no cost, including real-time payments, mobile payments, text2pay, intelligent IVR, and auto-pay features.
• ServLine by HomeServecoreTechnology or IntegrationARWA/NRWA ServLine Program protects utilities against losses from customer water leaks and provides service line repair/replacement protection options for customers.
• 120 WatercoreTechnology or IntegrationARWA partnered with 120Water to help members comply with Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) going into effect end of 2024, including training, self-evaluation tools, and compliance resources.
• Faulkner UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFaulkner University offers ARWA members a 50% tuition discount for online programs, supporting professional development and education for water industry professionals.
• Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEMA coordinates emergency response for Alabama communities affected by disasters, relevant for water system emergency preparedness.
• Alabama Office of Emergency ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates emergency management programs including preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for Alabama communities.
• Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA)minorOthersRSA provides retirement benefits information and services for Alabama state and local government employees, including water utility workers.
• Alabama State Employees Insurance Board (SEIB)minorOthersSEIB administers health insurance programs for state and local government employees, with information available about eligibility for utility employees.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Rural Water Association: The national federation of which ARWA is the Alabama affiliate. Direct counterpart in mission, programs (training, technical assistance, RLF), and member base (rural water/wastewater systems), but operating at national scope rather than state level.
• American Water Works Association: The largest national water-sector professional association, covering all utility sizes and roles. Broader incumbent that overlaps with ARWA on training, certification (operator credentialing), and policy advocacy but does not focus exclusively on rural systems.
• Water Environment Federation: National organization focused on water quality and wastewater professionals. Overlaps with ARWA's wastewater training and certification services, though WEF serves a broader municipal and industrial audience.

Direct peers

• Texas Rural Water Association: State-level rural water association serving Texas water/wastewater utilities. Operates the same circuit rider, training, RLF, and certification programs as ARWA but in a much larger state, making it the closest functional comparable in the NRWA network.
• Georgia Rural Water Association: Georgia's state rural water association, an NRWA affiliate delivering nearly identical circuit rider, operator certification, and technical assistance services. Adjacent Southeastern peer with overlapping customer profile.
• Mississippi Rural Water Association: Mississippi's NRWA state affiliate providing training, technical assistance, and RLF services to rural water systems. Direct mission and operational peer to ARWA, active in an adjacent Southeastern state.
• North Carolina Rural Water Association: North Carolina's NRWA affiliate offering circuit rider technical assistance, operator certification, and training to rural water/wastewater utilities — a direct functional peer to ARWA.

Regional players

• Alabama Rural Water and Wastewater Association: A separately chartered Alabama association serving water and wastewater operators with training and certification. Functions as an in-state peer / substitute provider for some of ARWA's training and member services.

Emerging players

• 120Water: Arguably the most direct technology partner of ARWA for Lead and Copper Rule compliance. A digital-first vendor that competes for the same compliance-driven utility budget through a software model rather than association membership.

Others

• ServLine by HomeServe: Water leak line protection program distributed to utilities through ARWA's channel. Adjacent ecosystem participant that uses the same association distribution model and could in principle bypass ARWA to deal directly with utility customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alruralwater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/arwa
• Facebookfacebook.com/alruralwater
• Instagraminstagram.com/alruralwater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alruralwater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alabama Rural Water Association