Pictured Left to Right: Frank Dunmire and Kiwanis Vice President Blain Cornwell

Frank Dunmire, of the Illinois Rural Water Association (IRWA), presented an overview of their operation to the Taylorville Kiwanis Club at their weekly Tuesday meeting. IRWA was started in 1979 in order to coordinate water and wastewater system programs on a statewide basis. They primarily serve communities in Illinois with populations under 10,000 and have a current membership of over 1,000 members. They have seven full time technicians available to provide technical guidance with drinking, wastewater, and source water problems to their membership. They also provide lobbying efforts, specialized training sessions, GPS mapping, video sewer line inspections, and system management services. They are funded through membership dues, fees from specialized services and training, as well as the US Department of Agriculture, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. For more information, go to www.ilrwa.org and www.taylorvillekiwanis.com.