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Michigan Rural Water Association (MRWA)

September 2026
Website
https://mrwa.net
Office phone
(517) 657-2601
Services
Training (100+ trainings/yr); Online Training; Safety Training; Water Circuit Riders; Wastewater Technicians; Source Water Protection; Water Quality Action; Energy Efficiency; Community Water & Wastewater Specialist
Back to Michigan
A free resource from Ziptility. We make software for small water systems.

Programs and services

Michigan Rural Water Association logo

MRWA runs training, technical help, rate studies and asset management plans for communities across Michigan. Its on-site help is federally funded and open to any community, member or not.

(517) 657-2601 · mrwa.net · Michigan operator certification

What MRWA does for your system

1
Rate studies and asset management plans
MRWA builds rate studies and asset management plans for at least 50 to 60 Michigan communities a year, at no cost to the community, and membership is not required. You supply billing data, production figures and what you plan to replace. MRWA then sits with council members a few at a time, short of a quorum, to walk them through the numbers. The calendar fills, so ask early.
2
Leak and line locating
MRWA locates leaks and lines for any Michigan community under 10,000 population, and approved a new correlator in September 2026.
3
Loaner equipment
The loan library sends out leak detectors and manhole cameras, and a valve turner that goes to systems under 3,300 population.

MRWA at a glance

50 to 60
Rate studies and asset plans a year
4,600
People trained a year
100+
Classes a year
16
Staff

How to reach them

Phone
(517) 657-2601
Email
membersvcs@mrwa.net
Website
mrwa.net
Address
2127 University Park Drive, Suite 340, Okemos, MI 48864
Who to ask for
The general office routes the call. Communities that already work with MRWA staff usually call them directly; staff are listed on mrwa.net.

Programs and services

On-site help

  • Federally funded field staff, including water circuit riders and wastewater technicians, covering operations, maintenance, compliance problems and the reporting that goes with them.
  • Specialists in source water protection, water quality, energy efficiency, and a community water and wastewater specialist.
  • Mi-WARN mutual aid.

Training and certification

  • More than 100 classes a year, online and in person.
  • Drinking water certification review classes every April and October at several sites, about 850 people a season. Offered hybrid; roughly 100 to 125 people a year attend over Zoom.
  • A three-day class in the Upper Peninsula for levels 3 and 4, limited treatment.
  • An in-house safety training track.
  • MRWA's magazine, Clarifier.

What is on the operator exam covers the material by type and level.

Live online classes carry a check-in question every 20 minutes. You must answer 70 percent of them for the credit to count toward renewal. Michigan is also adding a collection system license, expected around 2028.

Funding and finance

  • The National Rural Water Association's Rural Water Loan Fund for short-term borrowing on smaller projects. MRWA is the Michigan contact.
  • A listing of grant and loan programs, and referral into EGLE's drinking water and clean water revolving funds.
  • A salary survey.

Funding a big water project explains the state revolving funds, USDA loans and grants, and how to put an application together. Between studies, keeping the plan current is the utility's job, and it is what asset management software is for.

Compliance

  • Sampling and monitoring, source water protection, water quality, lead and copper compliance assistance, energy efficiency and AWIA compliance work.

EGLE writes and enforces Michigan's rules; MRWA is a membership nonprofit and does not regulate. Michigan sets its own state PFAS drinking water standards, and its lead and copper sampling method was adopted federally after Flint. Records and reporting covers what you owe and when. Tracking what is due across sampling, reporting and lead service lines is the year-round side of it, and what compliance software is built around.

Workforce (NEW APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ANNOUNCED)

  • A two-year apprenticeship program opening soon. Funding and approval came through in 2026; MRWA is recruiting apprentices and host communities now.
  • A water conservation video contest for Michigan high school students.

Grow your own operator covers building the next one in house rather than waiting for a hire.

Mapping

MRWA does not offer mapping as a service at this time.

Membership

MRWA has 550 municipal member communities. Michigan has roughly 790 municipal drinking water systems and 420 to 430 wastewater systems, so most municipal systems in the state are members. More than 60 members serve populations over 15,000. The general office can confirm whether a given system is a member.

Events

Annual Management and Technical Conference
Late March. Location rotates around the state.
MRWA's main event, split between management and technical sessions. Three days. Most attendees come from member communities.
Upper Peninsula Conference
Annual, in the UP.
A separate, smaller event for systems in the Upper Peninsula.
Certification review classes
Every April and every October, at several sites.
Drinking water exam prep. See Training and certification above for the levels covered.
Equipment Expo
Annual.
One day, held outdoors, where attendees see and work with large equipment. There is no conference floor.

How to get certified in Michigan

Published by Ziptility. We make software for small water systems.

Free tools for operators

Free practice tool

120 worked problems across the exam math.

Water math calculator

The everyday conversions and dosage math, in your pocket.

Find your state

Certification rules, renewal, and who to call, one page per state.