(TLP:CLEAR) Press Release: NRWA and WaterISAC Expand Complimentary Security Resources to Small Water Utilities

Summary: Eligible NRWA member utilities serving fewer than 10,000 people can now receive 12 months of complimentary WaterISAC membership through a pilot initiative.

[Washington, D.C. / Duncan, OK] — [July 16, 2026] — The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) and Water Information Sharing & Analysis Center (WaterISAC) are excited to announce a pilot program designed to expand access to critical cybersecurity and resilience resources for small and rural water and wastewater utilities across the United States.

Effective immediately, eligible NRWA member utilities serving fewer than 10,000 people may apply through December 31, 2026, to receive 12 months of complimentary WaterISAC membership. The pilot significantly expands a longstanding partnership between the two organizations, increasing membership eligibility from utilities serving fewer than 3,300 people to those serving fewer than 10,000.

Small and rural utilities face many of the same cyber, physical security, and operational risks as larger systems, often with fewer staff and resources dedicated to security. Through this pilot, NRWA and WaterISAC aim to equip more utilities with timely threat information, practical guidance, and a trusted community of peers focused on protecting critical water infrastructure.

“By expanding our partnership with WaterISAC, NRWA is able to better serve and protect our system members from cybersecurity threats,” said NRWA Chief Executive Officer Matt Holmes. “WaterISAC resources provide rural utilities with the information they need to prepare for, respond to, and recover from today’s evolving cyber threats, and now even more systems are eligible!”

Through this complimentary WaterISAC membership, eligible utilities receive access to a broad range of member resources, including:

• Timely cyber and physical security alerts
• Weekly Security & Resilience Updates
• Threat analysis and incident reporting
• Webinars and expert briefings
• Water sector intelligence products
• A trusted peer community focused on water sector security and resilience

As an added benefit, systems that sign up for membership in the program will also receive exclusive access to WaterISAC’s recent H2OSecCon presentation, “Responding to a Cyberattack on a Small Water Utility.”Previously available only to registered H2OSecCon attendees, this session provides a detailed, real-world examination of how a small water utility experienced and responded to a cyberattack, offering practical lessons and actionable recommendations for other utilities.

Tom Dobbins, WaterISAC Executive Director said, “Every utility, regardless of size, deserves access to timely, actionable security information. This pilot increases access and strengthens our collective ability to protect the water sector through information sharing, collaboration, and preparedness.”

Throughout the pilot, WaterISAC and NRWA will evaluate participation, member engagement, and overall program impact to determine how expanded access supports the security and resilience of small and rural utilities and to inform future partnership opportunities.

Eligibility

The pilot is available to:

• NRWA member utilities serving fewer than 10,000 people
• New WaterISAC membership applicants only (current WaterISAC members are not eligible)

Eligible utilities approved through the pilot will receive 12 months of complimentary WaterISAC membership.

Learn More

Eligible utilities can learn more and apply at: https://nrwa.org/waterisac/ or www.waterisac.org/nrwa

About the National Rural Water Association

The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to training, supporting, and promoting the water and wastewater professionals who serve small and rural communities across the country. NRWA provides nationwide training and technical assistance through its affiliated State Rural Water Associations that currently have over 31,000 utility system members across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Rural Water training and technical assistance covers every aspect of operating, managing, and financing water and wastewater utilities.

About WaterISAC

Water Information Sharing & Analysis Center (WaterISAC) is the only all-hazards security information sharing organization focused exclusively on the water and wastewater sector. WaterISAC helps utilities strengthen security and resilience by providing timely threat intelligence, incident reporting, analysis, collaboration opportunities, and expert resources that enable utilities to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber, physical, and natural hazards.

Pilot Terms: This offer is available only to eligible NRWA member utilities serving fewer than 10,000 people that are not currently WaterISAC members. Approved applicants receive 12 months of complimentary WaterISAC membership. Continued complimentary membership beyond the initial 12-month period will depend on the future of the pilot and any subsequent agreement between NRWA and WaterISAC.