Training Calendar

MRWS offers an array of professional training workshops to help you run and manage your water or wastewater system.
Below is the link to the training calendar and further below are the links to training that is confirmed and ready to go!

Click HERE for full MRWS 2026 Calendar pdf

Just click on an event below for details or to register.

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Jun

Mon

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course – Kalispell MT June 8-13, 2026 @ Evergreen Water District

Tickets

Jun 8 @ 9:00 am – Jun 13 @ 1:00 pm

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course

A series of lectures followed by guided exercises in a wet lab will provide understanding of field-testing methods on 4 backflow prevention assemblies: pressure vacuum breakers, spill resistant vacuum breakers, reduced pressure principle assemblies, and double check assemblies. Students will gain knowledge in hydraulics, backflow and back siphonage, types of cross connections, and degrees of hazard and state and federal regulations. Friday afternoon participants can take a written exam and on Saturday morning can take a practical exam administered by the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA). Passing scores on both the exams will result in certification by ABPA as a backflow prevention assembly tester. For more information on ABPA see the back of this training announcement or go to their website www.abpa.com

Click here for more information and how to register

Click here to register for exam through ABPA

Exam may not be posted yet on ABPA website. The dates have been approved, and the exams should be posted soon. As a reminder, it is your responsibility to register for the exam.

June 8-13, 2026

Jun

Tue

Water Operator Certification Review – Hysham MT @ Treasure County Community Center

Tickets

Jun 16 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Water Operator Certification Review

Treasure County Community Center

306 Rapelje Ave., Hysham, MT 59038

June 16th and 17th, 2026

9:00AM – 4:00PM

Tuesday

8:45 a.m. Sign-in, introductions!

9:00 a.m. Water Operations and Maintenance

11:00 a.m. Laboratory

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Math Review. Metric System, Calculations and Formula Sheet Overview

2:30 p.m. Pumps, Motors, and Valves

3:30 p.m. Safety and Security

4:00 p.m. Dismiss

Wednesday

9:00 a.m. Water Distribution

10:30 a.m. Source Water

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Source water continued

2:00 p.m. Surface Water Treatment

4:00 p.m. Dismiss

Call Robin Franzen (406) 781-8775 for further information.

Please register at www.mrws.org

No CECs are offered for this training. Schedule subject to change to optimize learning.

MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)

Workshop Date*
System/Company Name*
PWSID #*
This usually begins with MT00 unless you're Tribal.
Attendee Name*
First Last
Your Title*
Operator #*
If you're not certified or do not have a number, please use N/A.
Section:
- Water
- Wastewater
- Both
Phone*
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Jul

Wed

EPA Building Water Sector Natural Hazard Resilience in Montana – July 8th In-person/Virtual @ Montana Wild - Helena MT

Tickets

Jul 8 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Building Water Sector Natural Hazard Resilience in Montana and Neighboring States

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

In-Person Option: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM MDT (Montana Wild; Helena, MT)

Online Option: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM MDT (Zoom) Register Here!

Learning Objectives:

1. Review water availability and hydrological challenges in the Northern Great Plains region, discover local drought mitigation and source water protection planning strategies, and learn how local watershed groups are working to improve watershed health to benefit community water resources.

2. Learn how EPA’s Natural Hazard Technical Assistance can help your utility quantify risks to drought, wildfire, flooding, and other natural hazard impacts, pinpoint vulnerable assets, and identify cost-effective mitigation strategies that reduce risk and improve resilience.

3. Gain insights into federal, state, and local funding and assistance programs for water sector utilities by engaging and networking with experts.

Preliminary Agenda: Key topics are in Bold

8:30 AM Arrival & Sign-In

9:00 AM Welcome & Agenda Overview

9:10 AM Water Availability & Hydrological Challenges in the Northern Great Plains (Arin Peters, NWS)

9:40 AM Local Drought Planning & Source Water Protection (Valerie Kurth, MT DNRC)

10:00 AM Watershed Health & Management (Kristy Fortman, EPA)

10:20 AM Break

10:30 AM Intro to EPA Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Technical Assistance (Audrey Ramming, EPA)

10:45 AM Natural Hazard Risk-Informed Planning for Water Utilities (Geneva Gray, EPA)

11:10 AM Utility Resilience-Building Case Study (TBD)

11:30 AM Resilient Infrastructure Funding & Implementation Pathways (Emily Gillespie, EPA)

12:00 PM Lunch (Online Sessions End)

1:00 PM Peer Sharing: “Utilities in Action” (Small Group Activity)

1:20 PM Break

1:30 PM Speed Consulting Rotations: Resilience, Funding & Assistance Programs Networking Session (Interactive Activity)

2:55 PM Closing Remarks, Resource Highlights, Next Steps

3:00 PM Adjourn

Scan QR Code to Register or Click Here

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available

Aug

Tue

35th Annual Yellow Bay Advanced Wastewater Training for Mechanical Systems @ Yellow Bay Bio Station

Tickets

Aug 18 @ 7:30 am – Aug 20 @ 12:00 pm

35th Annual Yellow Bay Advanced Wastewater Training for Mechanical Systems

Montana Rural Water is excited to host the 35th Annual Yellow Bay training at the Flathead Lake Bio Station- an extension of University of Montana. The three-day course takes students into a deeper understanding of the biological and chemical reactions that occur in wastewater. Please bring a settlometer and 2 liters of your mlss so we can look at your bugs under the microscope! There are 2 options for accommodations for the course – stay on sight in the cabins on the lake or get your own hotel in Bigfork or Polson. On Day 2, we tour 3 different wastewater treatment plants so please bring a pair of pants and appropriate footwear. For a full description of the course please CLICK HERE

Check in for your cabins is Monday 8/17/2026 4pm- 7pm in the Lakeside Classroom. An interactive map of the Bio Station can be found here: Campus Map (Interactive) | FLBS-UMT

If you have any questions about the course please call Christine at 406-595-3502 or our office at 406-454-1151. The course is worth 20 hours = 2.00 Wastewater CECs.

MRWS Yellow Bay

Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Workshop Date*
Please put the date of the workshop you are registering for.
System/Company Name*
Permit #*
This number begins with MT000 and is assigned to your system by MDEQ
Attendee Name*
First Last
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if two people are attending and you're paying for both.
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if three are attending and you're paying for all three.
Title*
Operator #*
Phone*
Email*

Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Package Options
Package A: $650.00 Includes registration, workshop materials, and lunch Tuesday, 8/18/26. Accommodations made on your own. Polson 14 miles south and Bigfork 18 miles north. . . Package B: $800.00 Includes registration, workshop materials, cabin lodging for Monday 8/18,(check-in 4pm-7pm)in Lakeside classroom, Tuesday 8/19 and Wednesday 8/20. Large common shower/ restroom facility- linens provided. Cabin assignments will be made at check-in on Monday, 8/18/26. Meals included are breakfast 8/18, 8/19 & 8/20, lunch & dinner on Tuesday 8/18/26
How Many Attending?*
Donation

Donation to the MT Rural Water Education Fund
Select Your Payment Method*

Pay Online

Pay by Phone

Pay by Check
Total
$0.00
To pay by check, submit this form and bring your check to the workshop or mail your payment to:

MRWS
9 3rd st N #304
Great Falls, MT 59401
To pay by phone, submit this form then call MRWS office at 406-454-1151 to pay by credit card over the phone.

Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Credit Card

Δ

Sep

Tue

Water/Wastewater Operator Training @ Forsyth City Hall

Tickets

Sep 1 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Agenda and CECs to be announced

MRWS Regular Workshop Registration

Company
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Workshop Date*
Please put the date of the workshop you are registering for.
System/Company Name*
PWS ID #*
This number begins with MT000 and is assigned to your system by MDEQ
Attendee Name*
First Last
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if two people are attending and you're paying for both.
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if three are attending and you're paying for all three.
Title*
Operator #*
Phone*
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Workshop Fee*
Members: $60 per person Non-Members: $90 per person
How Many Attending?*
Workshop Fees are based on a per hour fee of $15 non-members and $10 members.
Donation

Donation to the MT Rural Water Education Fund
Select Your Payment Method*
- Pay Online
- Pay by Phone
- Pay by Check
Convenience Fee (3%)
Price: $0.00
Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Total Payment Due
$0.00
To pay by check, submit this form and bring your check to the workshop or mail your payment to:

MRWS
9 3rd st N #304
Great Falls, MT 59401
To pay by phone, submit this form then call MRWS office at 406-454-1151 to pay by credit card over the phone.

Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Credit Card

Sep

Thu

Water/Wastewater Operator Training @ MSU Richland County Extension, Sidney, MT

Tickets

Sep 3 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Agenda and CECs to be announced

MRWS Regular Workshop Registration

Facebook
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Workshop Date*
Please put the date of the workshop you are registering for.
System/Company Name*
PWS ID #*
This number begins with MT000 and is assigned to your system by MDEQ
Attendee Name*
First Last
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if two people are attending and you're paying for both.
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if three are attending and you're paying for all three.
Title*
Operator #*
Phone*
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Workshop Fee*
Members: $60 per person Non-Members: $90 per person
How Many Attending?*
Workshop Fees are based on a per hour fee of $15 non-members and $10 members.
Donation

Donation to the MT Rural Water Education Fund
Select Your Payment Method*
- Pay Online
- Pay by Phone
- Pay by Check
Convenience Fee (3%)
Price: $0.00
Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Total Payment Due
$0.00
To pay by check, submit this form and bring your check to the workshop or mail your payment to:

MRWS
9 3rd st N #304
Great Falls, MT 59401
To pay by phone, submit this form then call MRWS office at 406-454-1151 to pay by credit card over the phone.

Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Credit Card

Oct

Mon

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course – Billings MT October 5-10, 2026 @ Billings Heights Water District

Tickets

Oct 5 @ 9:00 am – Oct 10 @ 1:00 pm

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course

A series of lectures followed by guided exercises in a wet lab will provide understanding of field-testing methods on 4 backflow prevention assemblies: pressure vacuum breakers, spill resistant vacuum breakers, reduced pressure principle assemblies, and double check assemblies. Students will gain knowledge in hydraulics, backflow and back siphonage, types of cross connections, and degrees of hazard and state and federal regulations. Friday afternoon participants can take a written exam and on Saturday morning can take a practical exam administered by the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA). Passing scores on both the exams will result in certification by ABPA as a backflow prevention assembly tester. For more information on ABPA see the back of this training announcement or go to their website www.abpa.com

Click here for more information and how to register

Click here to register for exam through ABPA

Exam may not be posted yet on ABPA website. The dates have been approved, and the exams should be posted soon. As a reminder, it is your responsibility to register for the exam.

October 5-10, 2026

June – October 2026 Jun – Oct 2026

Need to check your CECs?

Stay Connected with MRWS!
Subscribe to receive updates about upcoming trainings, conferences, and news happening across Montana’s rural water community.

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course

MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)

MRWS Yellow Bay

MRWS Regular Workshop Registration

MRWS Regular Workshop Registration

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course

Quick Links

Contact MRWS

Need to check your CECs?

Stay Connected with MRWS!Subscribe to receive updates about upcoming trainings, conferences, and news happening across Montana’s rural water community.

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course

MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)

MRWS Yellow Bay

MRWS Regular Workshop Registration

MRWS Regular Workshop Registration

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course

Stay Connected with MRWS!
Subscribe to receive updates about upcoming trainings, conferences, and news happening across Montana’s rural water community.