About
Iowa Regional Utilities Association was founded in 1977 as the Jasper County Water Association. The founders of the Association believed that establishing a means of providing a safe, dependable source of potable water to rural residents would be essential for the continued viability of Iowa’s rural population. Jasper County Water Association founders began their efforts to sign up rural water member-customers in 1978.
Recruitment efforts developed a strong base of member-customers for the Jasper County Water Association. The original system, with headquarters in Newton, was defined by the boundaries of Jasper County, extending into small portions of Polk, Marion, and Marshall Counties. The original 950 miles of pipe, with approximately 2,000 member-customers, took nearly two years to install and bring into full service. This original area now represents approximately 20% percent of the current distribution system.
