EPA Holds Roundtable on Rural Water Issues in Western Kansas
LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 28, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a roundtable with rural water leaders in western Kansas at the City of Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau. EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy was joined by city leadership from Hays and Russell, water project managers, and others. The discussion centered on EPA funding opportunities, water sector careers, and local water concerns.
“Water is essential to the success of our rural communities,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Macy. “Through engagements like these, EPA is actively working to revitalize our efforts to reach small water systems and rural hubs like those in Hays and Russell with technical assistance and water workforce support.”
“It’s always important to have these meetings where you can have local leaders, all the way up to the federal level, discussing issues that impact everyday life and identifying ways of securing a path for tomorrow and beyond,” said Hays Mayor Mason Ruder.
During 2026, EPA’s Office of Water has launched an initiative to provide support to water and wastewater systems, called RealWaterTA, and kicked off an effort to refresh the agency’s Water Workforce Initiative.
The goals of RealWaterTA focus on public health and compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act. The initiative also prioritizes accountability for technical assistance providers and real-world results.
The water sector, including drinking water and wastewater systems, is facing widespread shortages of qualified workers due to expected retirements. As announced at an April roundtable with water sector leaders in Washington, D.C., EPA’s Water Workforce Initiative coordinates resources across government and industry to more effectively bolster water sector careers and to reach the next generation of water protection specialists.
One way EPA supports the water workforce is through the Innovative Water Workforce Development Grant Program, which awarded grants to Wichita State University in 2021 and 2024 for education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students. Wichita State University’s program is called the Future Water Leaders Program and focuses on K-12 water education and career exploration. Funding availability for the next round of water workforce grants will come later this year.
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