Evergreen Rural Water of Washington

• National Rural Water Rally

Two weeks ago Executive Director Gary Rhoades, Assistant Director Tracey Hunter, Board Members Fred Sheldon and David Vik, and our drinking water contest winner Dan Thompson, City of Oakville attended the National Rural Water Rally in Washington D.C. It is at the rally that we come together to have our (rural water) voices heard on Capitol Hill. We visited almost all of our congressional representatives and thanked them for the support that they offer us year round.

Tracey Hunter, Dan Thompson, David Vik, Congressman Hastings, Gary Rhoades

David Vik, Gary Rhoades, Senator Cantwell, Dan Thompson, Tracey Hunter

• Assistant Director Hunter Testifies Before Congress

Today's, (4/3/08), House EPA appropriations testimony went very well for us. Our witness/representative (Tracey Hunter from Evergreen Rural Water) was excellent and delivered our message very effectively (as shown in the attached photo).

After Tracey's comments, Chairman Dicks commented that rural water is important to him, that he has heard from many other Members of Congress on this issue, that rural water is an example of why Congress needs to include earmarks in agencies' budgets, and that this is the only funding for rural and small communities.

Ranking Member Todd Tiahrt also commented in favor of rural water funding and the need for help and assistance for small/rural communities in complying with ever tightening EPA standards. He said the only way local communities can keep up with EPA is through Congressionally directed funding.

Congressman Olver was in attendance too. He intensely combed through the Massachusetts section of the Report to Congress that Tracey handed to all Subcommittee Members in the beginning of her testimony.

• Executive Director Gary Rhoades attended the Rural Water/EPA Summit in D.C. State Rural Water Associations provided presentations showcasing their work in training and technical assistance, source water planning and response to emergency situations across the country. Relationships with regional offices were also discussed during the course of the meeting.   Technical issues included the need to consider rural and small system concerns in relation to rules and regulations.  These included the forthcoming Chemical Security Rule, Vulnerability Assessments and  the Total Coliform Rule.

  A discussion was held regarding water efficiency with an emphasis on water loss and the impact on energy as well as conservation and the pending shortage of qualified water system personnel.  Rural Water committed to working on this special initiative in cooperation with the Office of Water.

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• ERWoW's Executive Director Gary Rhoades, Assistant Director Tracey Hunter, Board President Brad Anderson and Board Member/NRWA Vice President Fred Sheldon met with our State's elected officials to discuss rural water initiatives and future funding levels that would allow us to continue all of our programs.

• Congressman Norm Dicks stopped by the ERWoW offices after attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the Shelton Area Regional Water & Wastewater Project. The event marked the ceremonial beginning of construction of the Satellite Water Reclamation Plant Project, which is the first phase of working together to make the $42million Shelton Area Regional Water & Wastewater Project a reality.
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• Executive Director Gary Rhoades, Board President Chip Anderson and Water Taste Test Winner Russ Rodocker attended the NRWA Rural Water Rally in Washington D.C.

Congressman Adam Smith & Russ Rodocker, Riviera Community Club Water Taste Test Winner

• Executive Director Gary Rhoades presented Congressman Norm Dicks with the Evergreen Rural Water Pioneer Award for his work with Rural Water.

From left to right: Gary Rhoades, Chip Anderson, Congressman Dicks, Fred Sheldon, Russ Rodocker

• Executive Director, Gary Rhoades, Testifies Before Congress - Urges Congress to Direct EPA to Fund What Works Best for Advancing Clean & Safe Water

April 19, 2007 Executive Director, Gary Rhoades, was in Washington D.C. testifying on behalf of Rural Water before the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Executive Director Rhoades testified that, "I am representing over 26,000 small community water supplies throughout the country...There are no other environmental initiatives within EPA or funded by EPA, that have the support of the overwhelming number or rural and small communities in your states that the rural water initiatives receive. Congress authorized this type of assistance to ensure that federal regulations would not overwhelm small and rural community resources and because small communities often need assistance to improve and protect their water resources. Without these initiatives, effective implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act in our rural areas would be nearly impossible."

• ERWoW's Executive Director Gary Rhoades and Board Member Stan Ratcliff met with our State's elected officials to discuss rural water initiatives and future funding levels that would allow us to continue all of our programs.

• Evergreen Rural Water of Washington received the Platnium Pump Award of Excellence from the National Rural Water Association for our efforts promoting National Legislation.

• We have started a monthly legislative email which we email to all of our Congressmen/woman and to both Senators. The email talks about the training classes and technical assistance that ERWoW put on in each of the 9 districts. If you are interested in receiving the email newsletter for your district just send an email stating which district you are in. Send email to: thunter@erwow.org

• 100% Support!!! Both Senators signed on the Dear Colleague Letter that was circulating through the senate and 7 of the nine congressmen/woman signed the State Delegation Letter and 2 of the congressmen/woman sent their own letters of support!
• Executive Director, Gary Rhoades, Assistant Director, Tracey Hunter, and water taste test winner Moe Levy attended the National Rural Water Rally in Washington D.C. April 2-4, 2006. We met with all of our Congressmen and Congresswomen and both Senators. As you know we had support from 8 of our 9 Congressmen/Congresswomen, after this meeting we were able to receive support from all 9!!! It also looks like we have support from both Senators.
• Be proud you live and work in Washington, our elected officials know how hard you work and what it will take to get everyone's system where it needs to be. Remember to send them letters thanking them for their support.

• We received word that 8 of the 9 Congressmen/Congresswomen from Washington State had either signed on the State Delegation Letter or had sent their own letter of support. Thank you for your support of Rural Water!

• The trip back to DC was successful. We met with all of our elected officials and all seemed interested in signing the State Delegation Letter. To see pictures from D.C. please click on the elected official's name below.
  • Senator Murray
  • Congresswoman McMorris
  • Congressman Baird
  • Congressman Inslee
  • Congressman Hastings
  • Congressman Larsen
  • Congressman McDermott
  • Congressman Dicks
  • Congressman Smith

• ERWoW's Executive Director Gary Rhoades and Assistant Director Tracey Hunter are scheduled to meet with our State's elected officials to discuss rural water initiatives and future funding levels that would allow us to continue all of our programs.