Coachella Valley Agua4All program evaluation shows increased water consumption

More than one million Californians lack access to safe drinking water—a little known fact in a state bountiful in agriculture and renowned for its technological industry. For these Californians, the only alternatives to unsafe water are expensive bottled water or sugary beverages, and at a time when one in three Latinos and nearly half of California adults are pre-diabetic. This is a particular concern as contaminated water is commonplace in low-income, predominately Latino communities in the state. But a successful program offers a great solution. Read more >>

Francis Engellant, 2016 RCAC Yoneo Ono Outstanding Rural Volunteer Award recipient

Across Montana’s rural Chouteau County, the name Francis Engellant has been synonymous with quiet generosity and diligent work for decades. Engellant, who farmed and ranched near Geraldine, saw purpose in helping wherever and whenever he could. Read more >>

Don Pfau, 2016 RCAC Yoneo Ono Outstanding Rural Volunteer Award recipient

When Don Pfau was nine years old the Ohio and Scioto rivers, which form a crescent at his hometown of Portsmouth, swelled and flooded. Water washed over six-foot high walls and mud destroyed churches and schools. Yet, his most vivid memory of the catastrophe is how everyone immediately pitched in to help … Read more >>

Matheny Tract has access to water after struggling for decades

For decades, Matheny Tract residents bathed in murky tap water that reeked of bleach. They worried about washing dishes in the water and wouldn’t even consider letting their children drink it. The water, warned public health officials, had arsenic levels too high for consumption. Read more >>

For too many, affordable housing is still out of reach

Nearly a decade after the housing market crisis and collapse, home ownership still remains out of reach for many Americans. The demand for rentals has shot up, and unsurprisingly so have rents, creating an economic catch-22. Read more >>

Add purpose to your life by helping communities help themselves!

Are you looking for a career that makes a difference in others’ lives? Do you like working with people? Do you have water or wastewater experience? Enjoy rural communities? RCAC has positions open in California and Hawaii. Visit our careers page to find out more and apply today! Inquire today >>

SAVE THE DATES: RCAC launches Outreach & Well Assessment workshops

RCAC will host Community Outreach & Well Assessment workshops in Arizona, California, Nevada and Oregon. Learn how to outreach to private well owners, discover tools and resources available to help raise awareness of private well issues, educate well owners and stakeholders about well care, and learn how to use RCAC’s well assessment tool to evaluate a well or spring to determine if there are any risks or vulnerabilities.

The workshops are open to all health and environmental professionals, well inspectors and others who work or would like to start working with well owners to educate them on how to maintain their well and ensure their drinking water is safe. Join your colleagues and RCAC, earn contact hours and network to meet others in your profession and form possible partnerships.

Funding for these workshops are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information, contact Thi Pham, RCAC project coordinator, Individual Well Program, at tpham@rcac.org or call (916) 447-9832 ext. 1038.

Conference and Workshop Calendar

Native American Water Masters Association
Spokane, Washington
August 31, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

502 Packaging Certification Training
Salt Lake City, Utah
September 20 – 22

Check out our training calendar for details on these and other RCAC trainings.

Network News, published monthly, is a compilation of timely news, announcements and accomplishments produced for the rural development world at no cost to subscribers. We encourage correspondence and welcome contributions. Subscribe here >>

Chief Executive Officer: Stanley Keasling
Managing Editor: Sharon Wills

RCAC
3120 Freeboard Drive, Suite 201
West Sacramento, CA 95691

Network News is funded by: RCAC’s Loan Fund and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

For further information on RCAC’s services or additional office locations, visit www.rcac.org or call (916) 447-2854.

RCAC is the western RCAP partner.