The Appalachian Community Technical Assistance and Training (ACTAT) program provides free, customized technical assistance and training to small rural water and wastewater utilities across economically distressed communities in Appalachian West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia - helping them build the capacity needed for safe, reliable service.
Devoted to protecting the public health and environment of the region's small communities by providing drinking water and wastewater informational and educational resources.
By focusing on each community’s context and needs, ACTAT promotes community-driven actions to address community-specific concerns about operating and managing water and wastewater systems. Our vision is to enhance economic development in small, rural communities of the region, by providing viable water infrastructure systems.
Learn more about the Appalachian Community Technical Assistance and Training (ACTAT) ProgramAfter devastating flash flooding hit the Mingo County Public Service District in 2025, ACTAT led a group of 20 WVU engineering and law students to provide hands-on cleanup support - freeing up staff to focus on treating the water supply.
Learn more about this story thisProviding effective delivery of relevant and free direct technical assistance, educational materials, training programs, and partnering opportunities to small, rural communities.
Water seems limitless and for the most part, it is taken for granted. However, water is essential for life. A potable (safe for drinking) water supply is perhaps the most vital service a community provides to its citizens. People depend on water for drinking, cooking, washing, carrying away wastes, and other domestic needs. In the U.S., drinking water supplies are among the safest in the world; however, this comes at a great cost and supplies are not always sustainable. Sources of water used to supply drinking water comes from rivers, lakes, and groundwater. From the source to the tap, water goes through many steps to become safe to drink.
Learn more about Drinking WaterEnsuring proper wastewater treatment and disposal is as important for protecting community health as drinking water treatment, garbage collection, and immunization programs. Untreated and inadequately treated wastewater can spread disease and contaminate drinking water sources When untreated wastewater reaches water used as a drinking water source, there can be significant health risks. To ensure safe drinking water, communities need both effective water and wastewater treatment.
Learn more about Wastewater TreatmentA job cannot be done correctly without the right tools, knowledge being the most important tool.