Michigan Rural Water Association

What Michigan Rural Water Association does

Michigan Rural Water Association (MRWA) is a nonprofit membership association founded in 1990 and headquartered in Okemos, Michigan, serving community water and wastewater utilities across the state. With a 10-person staff, MRWA delivers training, operator certification support, regulatory compliance assistance, advocacy, and networking resources primarily to small and rural systems, supplemented by a corporate partner program that connects utilities with equipment suppliers, engineering firms, and service providers.

MRWA's core offerings span an online and in-person training platform delivering EGLE-approved continuing education credits and MIOSHA/OSHA-compliant safety courses; signature events including the Annual Conference (scheduled March 23-26, 2027 at Grand Traverse Resort) and the Outdoor Expo at Michigan International Speedway; the MI-WARN emergency mutual aid network; a registered Water/Wastewater Apprenticeship Program; and compliance enablement tools for the EPA Lead & Copper Rule (in partnership with 120Water) and AWIA risk and resilience requirements. The organization runs on Novi AMS for membership, event registration, and content management. Additional resources include a salary survey, grants and loan fund guidance (USDA Rural Development, EGLE, DWSRF), workforce development materials, and a high-school video contest pipeline for water industry recruitment.

MRWA operates a community-led, membership-based go-to-market. Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring annual membership dues from community utility and corporate partner members, transactional event registration fees (member vs. non-member tiered pricing), corporate sponsorships, and paid training/certification programs. Pricing examples include $195 member / $245 non-member for technical classes, $225 member / $275 non-member for the Annual Conference, and $175–$225 Outdoor Expo registration. Customer segments comprise community water utilities (primary), community wastewater utilities, and corporate partners — all concentrated within Michigan's rural and small-system operator base.

Name

Michigan Rural Water Association

Legal name

Michigan Rural Water Association

Website

https://mrwa.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Michigan Rural Water Association is a nonprofit membership association founded in 1990 that delivers training, certification, regulatory compliance assistance, and advocacy to community water and wastewater utilities across Michigan, operated by a 10-person staff in Okemos.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Wastewater Utility Association Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAHABAB

Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Regulatory Compliance & Auditing (Air, Water, Waste)

SECONDARYEUAIAAAK

Rural / Remote Community MSW Collection

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Services (Waste Management, Recycling & Remediation)/Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Collection & Hauling

Keywords

• Water utility training
• Wastewater operator certification
• Rural water association
• Utility compliance assistance
• Water industry conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Okemos, Michigan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from community water/wastewater utility members and corporate partners. Members receive access to training, events, resources, and member pricing on events.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from training classes, conferences, the annual Outdoor Expo, and other educational events. Pricing varies between members and non-members.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor MRWA events and programs, providing financial support in exchange for visibility and access to utility members.
4. Training and Certification Programs: Fees for certification courses, continuing education credits (CECs), and specialized training programs for water and wastewater operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MRWA is a nonprofit membership association that delivers training, certification, and continuing education for water and wastewater utility operators across Michigan. Its core offerings include online and in-person operator training courses, MIOSHA-compliant safety training, signature industry events (Annual Conference and Outdoor Expo), a registered apprenticeship program, the MI-WARN mutual aid emergency response network, and compliance assistance tools for EPA Lead & Copper Rule and AWIA requirements. Members also gain access to advocacy, salary benchmarking, grants guidance, and a corporate partner ecosystem.

Product overview

Michigan Rural Water Association operates as a membership-based trade association providing a comprehensive suite of programs and services for water and wastewater utility professionals in Michigan. The organization's offerings include a core training platform delivering online and in-person courses for operator certification, safety training, and technical education; signature events including the Annual Conference and Outdoor Expo; the MI-WARN emergency response network; apprenticeship programs; and compliance assistance tools for Lead & Copper Rule and AWIA requirements. Member resources include salary surveys, grants guidance, and workforce development support. The association connects members with corporate partners who sponsor events and provide products/services to the water utility industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Training Platform Virtual and in-person educational courses for water and wastewater operators, including certification reviews, technical training, and safety courses delivered via Zoom and at locations across Michigan.
• Safety Training Programs MIOSHA-compliant safety training for confined space entry, excavation, trench hazard control, temporary traffic control, and other workplace safety topics for utility workers.
• Annual Conference Large annual industry conference featuring educational sessions, exhibits, and networking for water and wastewater professionals in Michigan.
• Outdoor Expo Annual outdoor equipment exposition with exhibitor booths, hands-on demonstrations, and continuing education credits for water and wastewater operators.
• Water/Wastewater Apprenticeship Program Registered apprenticeship program for individuals seeking careers in water and wastewater utility operations, combining on-the-job training with related technical instruction.
• MI-WARN (Michigan Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network) Emergency response network connecting volunteer operators to assist utilities during emergencies, including equipment sharing and mutual aid coordination.
• Lead & Copper Rule Compliance Assistance Partnership with 120Water providing tools and guidance to help members achieve compliance with EPA Lead and Copper Rule revisions, including sampling instructions and inventory management.
• AWIA Compliance Tools Risk and resilience assessment training and tools to help water utilities comply with America's Water Infrastructure Act requirements.
• Salary Survey Compensation benchmarking data for water and wastewater utility positions to help member organizations with hiring and retention decisions.
• Grants and Loan Fund Assistance Guidance and information on federal and state funding opportunities including USDA Rural Development programs, EGLE grants, and DWSRF loan programs for infrastructure projects.
• Rural Water Advocacy Advocacy efforts supporting rural water utilities, including opposition to funding cuts for USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs and promotion of infrastructure investment.
• Workforce Development Resources Resources supporting the development of water and wastewater utility workforce including training materials, career resources, and apprenticeship program coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water utilities average 240,000 water main breaks per year wasting over 2 trillion gallons per year nationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GovCardminorOthers · 16 February 2022GovCard partnership announced February 16, 2022. GovCard provides credit card processing services to MRWA and its members, offering discounted rates for association members.
• 120WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRWA announced a partnership with 120Water to help Michigan utilities with Lead and Copper Rule compliance. This partnership provides resources and assistance to help water systems identify and replace lead service lines and meet EPA regulatory requirements.
• National Rural Water Association (NRWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRWA is an affiliated state association of the National Rural Water Association. NRWA provides resources, advocacy, and support for state associations serving rural water systems across America.
• USDA Rural DevelopmentcoreOthersUSDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs supports rural communities in completing water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades. MRWA advocates for and supports member utilities in accessing USDA programs.
• Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)coreOthersMRWA works with EGLE on training approvals, continuing education credits, and regulatory compliance programs for Michigan water and wastewater operators.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Rural Water Association: The national parent association of MRWA, providing federal-level advocacy, training resources, and program support to state rural water associations across the U.S. Operates the same membership-based, training-and-advocacy model at scale.
• Ohio Rural Water Association: Another state-level rural water association delivering operator training, CECs, and emergency response ( WARN) networks to Ohio utilities — directly comparable in scope, services, and structure to MRWA.
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership: A national network providing training, technical assistance, and capacity building to rural water and wastewater systems — comparable in mission, target customers, and grant-funded program delivery to MRWA.
• Indiana Rural Water Association: A peer state rural water association serving Indiana utilities with training, certification, and advocacy — same member-funded, dues-plus-events revenue model as MRWA but in an adjacent geography.

Broad incumbents

• Water Environment Federation: A national technical and educational organization focused on water quality and wastewater treatment, providing training, certification, and publications that overlap with MRWA's wastewater operator training offerings.
• American Water Works Association: The largest national water utility association, offering training, certification, standards (e.g., ANSI/AWWA), and advocacy across all utility sizes — broader in scope than MRWA but overlapping on operator training and certification programs.
• National Association of Water Companies: Trade association representing investor-owned and managed water utilities — adjacent to MRWA's municipal focus but shares the advocacy, regulatory engagement, and training role for water utility operators.

Others

• 120Water: A compliance-tech partner of MRWA providing lead and copper rule software to water utilities; not a direct competitor but a tightly integrated vendor relationship that mirrors MRWA's role as a channel to small Michigan systems.

Regional players

• Michigan Section AWWA: The Michigan state chapter of AWWA providing training, conferences, and operator resources to Michigan water utilities — the closest in-state competitor to MRWA for operator training and continuing education.

Emerging players

• WaterISAC: An information sharing and analysis center serving water utilities on security and resilience — overlaps with MRWA's MI-WARN and AWIA compliance offerings around emergency preparedness.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-rural-water-assn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Michigan Rural Water Association