The Mississippi State University Extension Service Community Resource Development offers a Peer Review Program to public water systems throughout Mississippi. Water systems voluntarily request to participate in this program, with preference given to those systems with a Capacity Assessment Rating below 2.5. This program provides assistance to help strengthen the operations of Mississippi's public water systems through operator/operator relations.

Experienced volunteer operators, having no affiliation to any regulatory agency, perform Peer Reviews. When conducting a Peer Review, the Peer Review Team evaluates the water system's technical, managerial, and financial capacities. Following the evaluation of the water system, the Peer Review Team provides recommendations for improvement. The Peer Review Team may suggest ways the water system can reduce costs, comply with rules and regulations, prepare for the annual inspection, and most importantly increase its Capacity Assessment Rating, which is determined annually by the Mississippi State Department of Health. Six months following the evaluation, the Peer Review Team will return to assess any progress that has been made regarding recommendations and to provide further assistance. The results of the evaluation are anonymous.

The Peer Review Program continues to show successful results according to the Capacity Assessment Ratings. Of those systems receiving a Health Department evaluation following the Peer Review, capacity ratings indicate an average 1.0 overall increase.