AWWA JAW10134

Within the past decade, public water service has been brought to some 80,000 rural residents of South Dakota and water service is expected to be extended to many more rural families in the coming years. This article describes the development of rural water systems in South Dakota, which have typically been organized by a small group of citizens and managed by a board of directors until operator-managers are hired and trained. The South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems assists in training operator-managers by offering courses which deal with operations, maintenance, financial planning, design, government agency relations, employee relations, and consumer relations. Includes figures.