Water System Partnerships Implementation Tools and Resources
The following implementation tools and resources have been developed for primacy agencies and technical assistance providers to encourage and support water system partnerships, and for water systems and communities to implement water system partnership activities.
On this page:
- Water System Partnerships Getting Started Guide
- Water System Partnerships Funding Resources
- Capacity Checklist for Water System Partnerships
- Compendium of State Programs and Policies
- Additional Guides and Training Resources
- Partnerships Workgroup Summit
Water System Partnerships Getting Started Guide
Water System Partnerships Getting Started Guide (pdf) is designed to answer the "Where do I start?" question and help water systems initiate the implementation of water system partnerships and to navigate the partnerships and funding process. This guide describes the general approach for water systems to assess their current stage in the water system partnerships planning process, understand their next steps, prepare and apply for funding.
Water System Partnerships Funding Resources
Water System Partnerships Funding Resources (pdf) helps water systems, technical assistance providers, and communities learn more about available national, regional, and state-specific resources that could be used to fund or finance water system partnership activities. Projects highlighted in the state-level funding sections demonstrate the use of specific funding mechanisms and can be helpful to identify and access similar funding resources in other states.
Capacity Checklist for Water System Partnerships
This one-page Partnerships Checklist (pdf) assesses technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capacity factors to determine how a water system could benefit from a partnership.
Compendium of State Programs and Policies
The Compendium of State Programs and Policies Supporting Water System Partnerships, updated in 2024, contains information about programs, statutes, and policies implemented in the 50 states and Puerto Rico that encourage partnerships between drinking water systems. This document is intended as a starting point for public water system owners, operators, or technical assistance providers seeking information in their states, and for state drinking water program staff who would like an overview of how other states encourage and facilitate partnerships.
Water System Partnerships Compendium of State Programs and Policies (pdf)
Additional Guides and Training Resources
- Water System Partnerships Workshop Resource Guide (pdf) This guide includes a list of partnerships and capacity building resources that strengthen lessons learned from the Water System Partnerships Workshop, as well as national organizations that assist water systems to identify next steps and provide technical assistance in establishing a partnership.
- Drinking Water Training System
Self-paced training modules on water systems partnerships are available for independent learning or to support a Partnerships Workshop. Follow log-in instructions for Drinking Water Training System, click "General Curriculum" tab, and scroll to find partnerships module of interest. - Drinking Water Training Webpage
This page provides information on upcoming and past training opportunities for drinking water professionals, public officials, and citizens interested in gaining knowledge and skills related to compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, Building the Capacity of Drinking Water Systems, and Drinking Water Grant Opportunities.
Partnerships Workgroup Summit
On January 31, 2017, in Washington, D.C, the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water hosted a day-long meeting focused on water system partnerships, including promoting partnership activities and creating incentives for and reducing challenges to their development. It is part of a collaborative vision to establish a framework to support partnership activities on a national and local level.
The working meeting focused on three key theme areas: incentives and drivers to support water system partnerships development, financing options for partnerships, and outreach and education. Participants included federal agencies, state and local governments, utilities, associations, private sector and non-profits.
Find a complete meeting summary here: Water System Partnerships Meeting Summary (pdf)