The North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Association’s executive director – Eric Volk – says in the late 1960s and early 1970s, rural water systems started popping up in North Dakota. Volk says at first, the systems were working on their own.
"They found out that they needed a little extra help, and found out that others were doing this across the state," Volk said. "They kind of banded together — local people, needing just a little more assistance to get these rural systems into further development. So they started a state association to help with policy and funding."