Above the Fold

Some advice sticks with you forever. For me it’s this gem that my dad shared with me: Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. Simply put, it means preparation girds you for the moment you must rise to the occasion of opportunity. And when opportunity knocks? You answer, boldly and unafraid. 

Earlier this month opportunity didn't knock. It landed in my inbox.  

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-R.I.) communications director accepted my invitation for coffee. Sen. Whitehouse is the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which is responsible for legislation and oversight of the nation’s infrastructure – including the clean water systems that many of you are responsible for maintaining. Our meet and greet happened just hours after a hearing during which NACWA Treasurer Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells testified—boldly and unafraid—about the need for increased federal investment in infrastructure.  

It was an unconventional meeting-- we literally walked and talked. She asked me to tell her everything—she said she wanted to be a sponge. And there it was, the intersection of preparation and presence. I had a chance to bend her ear and shape a conversation connecting the dots between infrastructure, investment and impact. It was my moment to make the invisible not just visible, but unforgettable. 

We talked about infrastructure and federal funding, biosolids management, the combined sewer overflows that plague older cities-- particularly along the East Coast where the Senator's constituents live. I also told her about you, our members, some of the most passionate environmental protectors and defenders. 

As my voice literally echoed through the halls of the Dirksen Senate building in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol, I understood the importance of being prepared for the moment when what you say really matters—that one person’s words can shape decisions and shift perspectives.  

Imagine what the united voices of an entire sector can do.  

We are diligently working on ways to help you, our members, stay ready for when the next opportunity to engage others with our sector presents itself. NACWA's effort to unify the clean water sector through coordinated messaging is steadily progressing and I'm excited to share that we have enlisted StandPoint Public Affairs as partners in this initiative. The team will be sharing more about their approach during NACWA’s Strategic Communications: H2O Workshop next month, and I hope to see you there! 

In the meantime, let’s stay ready. And when the moment comes, let’s make sure we rise to it—together. 

--Rahkia Nance, NACWA Director of Communications 

Register  Today for the Must-Attend Communications Conference for Water Sector Communicators and Leaders! 

NACWA’s Strategic Communications: H2O Workshop, the only conference of its kind for water sector communicators and utility executives, is just a few weeks away and you won’t want to miss out on this year’s event, which is June 10-11 in Detroit. Whether we’re navigating a crisis, building trust with customers, or advocating for infrastructure investment, the ability to tell our story clearly and confidently has never been more critical. The agenda is linked here. 

At this conference, you’ll find sessions led by peers who have walked the same path:  championing rate changes, launching education campaigns, and turning complex technical challenges into human-centered narratives. You’ll learn what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. It will also provide unmatched networking opportunities to connect with other professional communicators working at clean water utilities. See you in Detroit! 

 
Infrastructure and Influence: Tell the Story of Water Investment 

Programs like the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) have long been the relied-upon funding mechanisms for improving countless communities across the country. But drastic cuts in the proposed White House FY2026 budget threaten the future of these programs. 

We're calling on clean water utilities to share stories of how WIFIA or CWSRF funding has made a difference in your community. Whether it's improved water quality, job creation, climate resilience, or saving ratepayers money, lawmakers need to hear know and understand how federal dollars support the people they serve.  

Remember, your voice influences future funding, policy, and public support. When clean water utilities tell their own stories, they illustrate the real-world value of these investments. Your input is especially vital to help protect federal investment in the WIFIA and CWSRF programs this year. 

If your utility has benefited from these programs, and you’d like to share, please contact Rahkia Nance, NACWA’s Director of Communications, to discuss. 

Peer of Influence: Prince William Water 

Kathy Bentz, Communications Director at Virginia’s Prince William Water, shares how the utility rebranded itself and offers advice on when to know it's time for a change. Learn more about the utility's “legacy-making experience here."