WINDOW ROCK — After nearly two decades of delays, the Many Mules Water System is moving into operation, bringing Diné families in Hard Rock, Forest Lake and Black Mesa closer to dependable drinking water.
The progress comes on the heels of President Buu Nygren’s summer directive requiring the agencies involved to resolve the remaining obstacles and move the project forward. President Nygren’s directive brought the partners together to clear the way for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) to begin operating the system.
“Water is life, and every family deserves access to clean, dependable drinking water,” said President Nygren. “I appreciate every partner who helped move this long-awaited project closer to serving our communities.”
The Many Mules Water System uses wells, pumps and storage infrastructure associated with the former Peabody Mine to serve families in the Black Mesa-Peabody area of the Navajo Nation.
The Navajo Area Indian Health Service has finalized a plan for transferring the system’s operations from Peabody to NTUA. While Peabody completes the required cleanup and closure of its former mining facilities, it will continue manually operating the NAV8 and NAV2 water-supply wells and the N8 booster pumps. During this period, the J28 storage tank will continue supplying the N-14 and N-6 public fill stations, KOA trailers, MCW facilities, the Ranger Station, Safety Quarters and Booster Station A.
After Peabody completes its reclamation work and leaves the site, the J28 tank and a portion of its distribution line will be deactivated. The CDK storage tank will then supply the public fill stations and other facilities while NTUA assumes long-term operations.
The plan also establishes procedures to prevent water from becoming stagnant in the Hilltop storage tank. NTUA will monitor chlorine levels and drain the tank when necessary to meet IHS water-quality standards. IHS is working to obtain a discharge permit.
Until the permit is issued, operators will follow an approved temporary process whenever the tank must be drained.
NTUA may also consider distributing the water to community members instead of releasing it onto the ground when the tank must be emptied. This would conserve the water and would not require a discharge permit.
An amendment awaiting Navajo Nation approval would provide NTUA with funding for supervisory control and data acquisition, or SCADA, technology and related electrical equipment. These improvements would help operators monitor tank levels, manage water age and maintain the system more efficiently.
The project partners are also completing the operations agreement, rights-of-way assignments, project closeout and transfer documents. The beneficial-use permit has been signed, and NTUA will designate a representative to participate in IHS homeowner training and explain how families can activate their water accounts.
Once Phases 2, 3 and 4 are completed, the Hilltop storage tank will serve the additional infrastructure and expand access to drinking water for more families across the Black Mesa region.
“This is about the health and dignity of our people and creating a better quality of life for our people,” President Nygren said. “We will continue working with NTUA, IHS, Peabody and our local communities until families receive the reliable water service they have waited for.”
