Virginia Rural Water Association
Virginia Rural Water Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership association, founded in 1987 and based in Buena Vista, Virginia, that provides training, certification, on-site technical assistance, and advocacy to small rural water and wastewater utilities across Virginia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersBuena Vista, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Virginia Rural Water Association does
Virginia Rural Water Association (VRWA) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit membership association founded in 1987 and headquartered in Buena Vista, Virginia. It serves small municipal and rural water and wastewater systems across the Commonwealth of Virginia, typically those serving populations under 10,000, along with corporate members (engineering firms, equipment suppliers, service companies), individual members, and associate members (larger utilities and state/federal agencies). The association is governed by a nine-member board of directors elected by its voting utility members.
VRWA's core offering is a portfolio of training, technical assistance, and advocacy services. Training includes classroom and hands-on certification prep, continuing professional education (CPE) credits, online courses via SunCoast Learning, and one-on-one tutoring. Technical assistance is delivered through the Water Circuit Rider Program (three field technicians with portable labs, leak detection equipment, and ground penetrating radar), Wastewater Assistance, an on-staff EPA Water Training Specialist, and a Source Water Protection initiative. The Empowered Team Project (TETP) is a proprietary leadership certification program tailored to the rural water industry. The organization also publishes the award-winning StreamLine magazine.
VRWA generates revenue through annual membership dues (voting utilities, corporate, individual, associate tiers), a tiered VRWA Booster Club corporate sponsorship program ($4,000-$6,500), conference and event fees (Annual Conference, Fall Expo, Leadership Symposium, Office Professionals Mini-Conference), advertising across print and digital channels, and contract work performed through its affiliation with the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). The go-to-market motion is community-led, anchored by the Annual Conference (820+ attendees, 160+ vendor companies) and ongoing member engagement across five Virginia regions.
Virginia Rural Water Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Virginia Rural Water Association
- Legal name
- Virginia Rural Water Association
- Website
- https://vrwa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Virginia Rural Water Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership association, founded in 1987 and based in Buena Vista, Virginia, that provides training, certification, on-site technical assistance, and advocacy to small rural water and wastewater utilities across Virginia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Virginia Rural Water Association industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO)
Keywords
Where Virginia Rural Water Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buena Vista
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Virginia Rural Water Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from voting utility members, corporate members, associate members, individual members, and Class VI operator members. Modest dues used to expand services and buy equipment.
- Conference and Event Revenue: Revenue from Annual Conference, Fall Expo, Leadership Symposium, and other events including vendor booth registrations, attendee fees, and sponsorship packages.
- Advertising Revenue: Revenue from advertising in StreamLine magazine, print and online publications, digital retargeting, and e-newsletter sponsorships.
- NRWA Contract Work: Contract work performed through affiliation with National Rural Water Association, providing technical assistance and training programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Diamond Member Booster - $6,500/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum Member Booster - $5,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Gold Member Booster - $4,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Member Basic - $700 new / $600 renewal |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Virginia Rural Water Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VRWA is a non-profit membership association delivering training, on-site technical assistance, certification support, and advocacy for small municipal and rural water and wastewater systems across Virginia. Core deliverables include classroom and hands-on operator training (with CPE credits and certification prep), circuit rider field support (leak detection, line locating, smoke testing, process control troubleshooting), the Empowered Team Project leadership certification, an EPA-housed training specialist, source water protection planning, and industry events (Annual Conference, Fall Expo, Leadership Symposium, Office Professionals Mini-Conference). Member benefits also include the StreamLine Magazine publication, vendor discounts, and partnerships with 120Water, TAP, GovCard, the Rural Water Financing Agency, and NRWA programs.
Product overview
Virginia Rural Water Association is a membership-based professional organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services for rural water and wastewater systems. The core offerings include training and education programs (certification prep, CPE credits, tutoring), technical assistance (Water Circuit Rider, Wastewater Assistance, EPA Training Specialist, Source Water Protection), and professional development events (Annual Conference, Fall Expo, Leadership Symposium, Office Professionals Mini-Conference). The Empowered Team Project provides leadership certification, while membership benefits include StreamLine Magazine publication and partnerships with third-party providers (120Water, The Association Partner, GovCard, NRWA programs). The VRWA Booster Club offers premium corporate membership tiers for vendors seeking enhanced visibility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Virginia Rural Water Association
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Virginia Rural Water Association technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Virginia Rural Water Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 120WatercorePartnership to help VRWA members prepare for Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). 120Water provides software, sampling kits, and compliance services. VRWA members receive preferred pricing and free 30-minute planning sessions with LCRR specialists.
- The Association Partner (TAP)coreDigital advertising partnership providing VRWA members with additional marketing avenues including digital retargeting, dedicated member e-blasts, and VRWA eSource eNewsletter sponsorship opportunities.
- GovCardminorPayment collection solution partner offering no zero-solution for utilities to collect payments from customers.
- Rural Water Financing AgencyminorFinancial partner providing tax-exempt loan funds at favorable terms and rates for VRWA member utilities.
- National Rural Water Association (NRWA)coreAffiliation with NRWA enables VRWA to perform contract work and access additional resources. NRWA provides products and services portfolio including Fleet Purchase Program, IRIS, Revolving Loan Fund, Servline, Wellness Works, and Rural Water Impact. VRWA participates in national training programs and grassroots source water protection initiatives.
- EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)coreEPA Water Training Specialist program housed at VRWA, providing operator certification training, board member training, and on-site technical assistance. Specialist has expert knowledge regarding compliance challenges for small systems.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Virginia Rural Water Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- American Water Works Association: Large, established international water-sector association offering training, certification, publications, and advocacy. Overlaps with VRWA on operator certification and continuing education but serves utilities of all sizes with a much broader portfolio.
- Water Environment Federation: Major international water quality organization providing technical training, conferences, and certification for the wastewater profession. Comparable on training/conference offerings, especially given VRWA's wastewater assistance program, but operates at much larger scale.
Others
- Water Research Foundation: Water-sector research organization funding applied research for utility members. Not a direct competitor but a thematically related ecosystem participant that VRWA members and partners (NRWA, EPA) engage with on water-quality research priorities.
- National Association of Water Companies: Trade association representing investor-owned and municipal water utilities. Adjacent rather than direct peer, but shares the water-utility advocacy and policy-engagement mission that VRWA pursues at the rural/state level.
Direct peers
- Tennessee Rural Water Association: State-level rural water and wastewater association providing training, on-site assistance, and an annual conference/expo. Highly comparable operating model to VRWA.
- National Rural Water Association: National umbrella organization of which VRWA is a Virginia state affiliate. Directly comparable as a rural water membership association providing training, technical assistance, and advocacy, but operating at national scale with state chapters.
- Kentucky Rural Water Association: State-level rural water association offering the same mix of training, technical assistance, circuit-rider field support, source water protection, and annual conference as VRWA. Closest functional peer at the state level.
- West Virginia Rural Water Association: Neighbor-state rural water association offering circuit-rider technical assistance, operator training, and an annual conference. Direct comparable with overlapping Appalachian-region utility base.
- North Carolina Rural Water Association: State rural water association serving North Carolina utilities with training, on-site technical assistance, and an annual conference. Direct equivalent to VRWA in adjacent state geography.
- Rural Community Assistance Partnership: National nonprofit network providing training, technical assistance, and capacity building to small rural communities on water, wastewater, and other infrastructure — directly comparable mission to VRWA but operating regionally/nationally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Virginia Rural Water Association social profiles
Digital presenceVirginia Rural Water Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Virginia Rural Water Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Virginia Rural Water Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Virginia Rural Water Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Rural Water Association
What does Virginia Rural Water Association do?
VRWA is a non-profit membership association delivering training, on-site technical assistance, certification support, and advocacy for small municipal and rural water and wastewater systems across Virginia. Core deliverables include classroom and hands-on operator training (with CPE credits and certification prep), circuit rider field support (leak detection, line locating, smoke testing, process control troubleshooting), the Empowered Team Project leadership certification, an EPA-housed training specialist, source water protection planning, and industry events (Annual Conference, Fall Expo, Leadership Symposium, Office Professionals Mini-Conference). Member benefits also include the StreamLine Magazine publication, vendor discounts, and partnerships with 120Water, TAP, GovCard, the Rural Water Financing Agency, and NRWA programs.
Is Virginia Rural Water Association a public or private company?
Virginia Rural Water Association is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Virginia Rural Water Association founded?
Virginia Rural Water Association was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Virginia Rural Water Association based?
Virginia Rural Water Association is headquartered in Buena Vista, United States, in the North America region.
How does Virginia Rural Water Association make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are conference and Event Revenue, advertising Revenue and NRWA Contract Work.
Who are Virginia Rural Water Association's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation. Others are Water Research Foundation and National Association of Water Companies. Direct peers are Tennessee Rural Water Association, National Rural Water Association, Kentucky Rural Water Association, West Virginia Rural Water Association, North Carolina Rural Water Association and Rural Community Assistance Partnership.
Does Virginia Rural Water Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Virginia Rural Water Association.
What industry is Virginia Rural Water Association in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAO, Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE). Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.