Ramah Navajo Water Treatment Project
The Ramah Navajo Water Treatment Project helps families on the Ramah Navajo Reservation obtain safe drinking water. The project is being led by the EWB-ABQ professional chapter and was approved by EWB-USA in early 2008 and was the first project of the Albuquerque EWB Professional Chapter. The goal of the program is to improve water treatment to the Pine Hill school community and the surrounding community of water haulers through educational, technical and material assistance. Pilot treatment tests will be carried out to determine the best method to remove arsenic and radium from the school water system, which is the only public water source for the area. In addition, methods for purifying water from 12 unregulated stock wells used by local families who are not on the public water system will be tested with the assistance of community members, including students from the school.
This is a new program and there are many opportunities for EWB members to get involved. EWB members can provide assistance in water sampling and analysis and construction of both low-tech treatment and rain water harvesting equipment and more sophisticated pilot test equipment at the school. Educational outreach is a critical part of the project. EWB can lead educational activities, coordinated with Pine Hill School and Ramah Navajo Continuing Education, such as a water fair to educate the students and community about safe drinking water as well as teach the students about careers in various aspects of water treatment, engineering and public health. The project is being coordinated with our Ramah project involving installation of solar power at the Ramah Navajo Weavers Hogan on the Pine Hill School campus.
For information about the Ramah Navajo Water Treatment Project, contact the Project Lead Malcolm Siegel (505-844-5426; msiegel@sandia.gov).