Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
Rural Water Infrastructure: Better Agency Coordination Could Help Unserved Communities Address Their Needs
Discusses issues related to rural water infrastructure, including what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) know about rural communities not served by drinking water or wastewater utilities. Describes USDA and EPA programs that can provide financial and technical assistance to rural communities for water infrastructure, how the agencies prioritize these communities, and challenges rural unserved communities face in accessing financial and technical assistance from USDA and EPA. Offers recommendations to USDA and EPA regarding increasing access to water infrastructure funding and technical assistance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses issues related to rural water infrastructure, including what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) know about rural communities not served by drinking water or wastewater utilities. Describes USDA and EPA programs that can provide financial and technical assistance to rural communities for water infrastructure, how the agencies prioritize these communities, and challenges rural unserved communities face in accessing financial and technical assistance from USDA and EPA. Offers recommendations to USDA and EPA regarding increasing access to water infrastructure funding and technical assistance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Assessing Homeowner Perspectives and Barriers to Maintenance of On-Lot Septic Systems in Rural Pennsylvania
Results of a study surveying septic system users in Pennsylvania in 2024 and 2025 to assess whether residents follow current maintenance guidelines, to examine barriers and needs for proper maintenance, and to evaluate water contaminants in private water sources. Features statistics including age of systems, pumping frequency, and contaminant detection frequencies of water samples, including drinking water.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Faith A. Kibuye, Andy Yencha, Susan Boser
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Results of a study surveying septic system users in Pennsylvania in 2024 and 2025 to assess whether residents follow current maintenance guidelines, to examine barriers and needs for proper maintenance, and to evaluate water contaminants in private water sources. Features statistics including age of systems, pumping frequency, and contaminant detection frequencies of water samples, including drinking water.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Faith A. Kibuye, Andy Yencha, Susan Boser
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Wisconsin State Health Assessment 2025
Provides an overview of population health in Wisconsin, focusing on demographics, social determinants of health, health behaviors, health outcomes, and community health infrastructure. Includes rural versus urban and county-level data points and discusses key health issues in Wisconsin.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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Provides an overview of population health in Wisconsin, focusing on demographics, social determinants of health, health behaviors, health outcomes, and community health infrastructure. Includes rural versus urban and county-level data points and discusses key health issues in Wisconsin.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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States Find Innovative Ways to Support Rural and Small Water Systems
Discusses strategies that state have implemented to provide clean and affordable water to rural communities. Highlights maintenance costs of small water systems, funding challenges, and provides successful practices for states to support local water systems.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Discusses strategies that state have implemented to provide clean and affordable water to rural communities. Highlights maintenance costs of small water systems, funding challenges, and provides successful practices for states to support local water systems.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Controlled, Before-and-After Analysis and Pre–Post Surveys to Assess the Effects of a Community-Wide Sanitation System on Environmental Contamination, Infection Risk and Well-Being in Alabama's Black Belt: Study Protocol
A study protocol focused on implementation of a community-wide sanitation system in a rural area of Alabama. Utilizes controlled, before-and-after (CBA) data collection of pathogens and bacteria to analyze impact of sanitation systems on public health and well-being.
Author(s): Olivia A. Harmon, Megan E. J. Lott, David A. Holcomb, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(4), e108477
Date: 04/2026
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A study protocol focused on implementation of a community-wide sanitation system in a rural area of Alabama. Utilizes controlled, before-and-after (CBA) data collection of pathogens and bacteria to analyze impact of sanitation systems on public health and well-being.
Author(s): Olivia A. Harmon, Megan E. J. Lott, David A. Holcomb, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(4), e108477
Date: 04/2026
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Resolving Wastewater Treatment Challenges in Small Communities
Manual providing guidance on wastewater challenges and wastewater system evaluation, planning, and implementation in small and rural communities.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Manual providing guidance on wastewater challenges and wastewater system evaluation, planning, and implementation in small and rural communities.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Regional Partnership Program: A Community-Led Approach
Discusses the role of voluntary regional partnerships in supporting small and rural water and wastewater systems, highlights priority topics and challenges in rural water systems, presents data on water system inventory and health violations by size of population served, and provides federal policy recommendations to support regional partnerships.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Water Association, Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Discusses the role of voluntary regional partnerships in supporting small and rural water and wastewater systems, highlights priority topics and challenges in rural water systems, presents data on water system inventory and health violations by size of population served, and provides federal policy recommendations to support regional partnerships.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Water Association, Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Cancer in Iowa 2026
Provides data on cancer incidence, characteristics, and survival in Iowa. Provides county-level estimates of new cancers, cancer deaths, and those living with cancer as of 2026. Features a section on how cancer impacts Iowa's farming population and related issues of agricultural health, drinking water quality, and pesticide use.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Cancer Registry
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Provides data on cancer incidence, characteristics, and survival in Iowa. Provides county-level estimates of new cancers, cancer deaths, and those living with cancer as of 2026. Features a section on how cancer impacts Iowa's farming population and related issues of agricultural health, drinking water quality, and pesticide use.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Cancer Registry
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Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Kentucky, 2021–2023
Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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Meeting the Health Needs of Rural America: A Report of the Aspen Health Strategy Group
Presents a model for addressing rural health disparities and encouraging accessible, sustainable healthcare access through community-centered policy, investment, and healthcare delivery. Discusses topics related to health policy, funding, community development, infrastructure, preventive care, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Presents a model for addressing rural health disparities and encouraging accessible, sustainable healthcare access through community-centered policy, investment, and healthcare delivery. Discusses topics related to health policy, funding, community development, infrastructure, preventive care, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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