CHURCH ROCK, N.M. – Beneath the sandstone cliffs of the iconic Church Rock and Pyramid Rock, a new water tank is being constructed to supply water lines to the communities of Iyanbito and Church Rock.
Part of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, this initiative aims to provide a long-term, sustainable water supply for approximately 1,200 residents in Church Rock.
The construction includes a booster station with a 660,000-gallon water tank and 5,600 linear feet of 10-inch water line connecting residents to a dependable water source. In Iyanbito, another booster station is under construction, featuring a 508,000-gallon tank and 42,400 linear feet of 12-inch water main.
The estimated cost is about $21 million to fund Church Rock (Project Z89) and Iyanbito (Project Z90).
“To fully complete the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, we need additional funding from Congress,” said President Nygren.
On Thursday, August 28, President Nygren toured the Church Rock site with officials from the Indian Health Service and Navajo Engineering & Construction Authority. This collaborative effort exemplifies an innovative strategy by the Bureau of Reclamation to work closely with local entities to reach more homes.
“IHS and NECA know how to work together to build water lines and improve water access in our communities,” President Nygren said. “This also demonstrates to Congress that the Navajo Nation is creative in bringing water solutions to its people.”
The new water tanks and lines will improve water access for eastern Navajo communities like Thoreau, which currently relies on groundwater as its primary water source.
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