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Combating COVID-19 Without Adequate Access to Safe Water
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 According to an article by NPR published April 24, 2020, the Navajo Nation ranks as the third highest coronavirus infection area per capita behind New York and New Jersey. Despite the incredible work being carried out by public health organizations on the Nation, there are several challenges that contribute to this high rate of infection. Krista Allen, a journalist for The Navajo Times notes that these challenges include inadequate housing, poverty, health care shortages, and, notably, a lack of access to potable water.
While it's too soon to understand how this access impacts the rate of infection, hand washing is vital to preventing the spread of COVID-19. George McGraw, founder of the nonprofit DigDeep, writes in his article under The New York Times that hauling water forces those without running water to leave their homes increasing exposure to the virus. He proposes that agencies can improve access to potable water at this time through water deliveries and hand washing stations.
To assist with these efforts, Nestle Water and DigDeep have partnered to distribute 248,000 gallons of water to the Nation with a second wave of distribution under way. Arizona emergency officials have also teamed up with a Coca-Cola bottler to send 30,000 liters to the Nation. In another act of communities coming together, a relief fund for Navajo and Hopi families has also raised over $3 million dollars. Organizers of the funds indicate that the money will help communities access food, water, and personal protective equipment.
In addition to this assistance, the Navajo Nation recently received $600 million from the $8 billion of tribal relief funding released under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has stated that he hopes to see the funds go toward infrastructure including new waterlines and housing.
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Changing Currents 2020 Youth Tribal Water Summit
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Leadership can take many forms. In this year's Youth Summit, participants will explore what it means to become the next generation of water leaders. August 8th through August 15th*, like-minded tribal youth will explore:
- A tribal perceptive on water
- Modern relationships to hydrology and infrastructure
- Tribal water rights, law & policy, and stewardship responsibilities
- Using education, information, and media to tell water stories
- Emergency preparedness & response during water crises
- Field trips to water resource sites including watershed headwaters, reservoirs, wildlife refuges, and the Oregon Coast
- Healthy college life and classroom learning
Changing Currents in now accepting applications for the 2020 Youth Summit. Tribal youth participants between the ages of 15 and 19 from the Pacific Northwest will be eligible to apply. Housing and meals will be provided. Applications are due June 15, 2020. Interested parties can apply here.
* While this in-person event has not yet been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, we recognize that is still a possibility. We thought the opportunity was too important not to share!
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Free Webinars: Large Building Water Quality Issues
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 Gear up for one of these four free webinar opportunities offered exclusively to tribal utilities by the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership. Participants will learn from Shawnee Ford, a certified water and wastewater operator experienced in working with tribal utilities, private contractors, the Wisconsin DNR, U.S. EPA, Indian Health Services, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Shawnee will address water quality in large buildings and their complex distribution systems by discussing premise plumbing challenges, monitoring, roles & responsibilities, regulations, and planning. The training has been approved for 1.5 water and wastewater hours in Wisconsin. Operators can select from any of the four dates scheduled for May.
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Featured Video: Webinar: Emerging Voices of Tribal Perspectives in Water Resources, Part 2
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In this webinar recording, Otakuye Conroy-Ben reviews her publication "Disparities in Water Quality in Indian Country". Operators will learn about her findings as well as the U.S. EPA's ECHO database. Using the database, operators can access water quality quarterly data by connection through the last three years. To follow up the first paper, Crystal Tulley-Cordova will discuss her work on the "Navajo Nation, USA, Precipitation Variability from 2002 to 2015".
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Review two papers relevant to water quality and quantity on tribal lands.
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 Dealing with Lagoon Turnovers and Associated Problems
Kansas Rural Water Association
This 3-page article from the Kansas Lifeline discusses how to identify and troubleshoot the culprit of lagoon odors in the spring.
Nevada: Tribal System Experience with Arsenic Rule Compliance
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The case study describes how the Fallon-Paiute-Shoshone water system investigated two potential treatment alternatives to remove arsenic from their groundwater.
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Have a different question?
You can find thousands of helpful resources in our database.
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Events for Tribal Water Systems
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 Please Note: In response to the ongoing pandemic, we have only listed free, online training courses and webinars.
Tribal Nations Utility Virtual Technical Assistance Forum (Region 8)
Thursday, May 14th | Online
Hosted by the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona & United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.
Tribal utilities located within region 8 can participate in this this free, live guided forum to discuss among peers challenges and solutions in maintaining critical operations during the novel coronavirus.
Wastewater Laboratory 101
Tuesday, May 19th | Online
Hosted by the Wisconsin Rural Water Association
This online class reviews basis wastewater lab work, equipment, sampling, and analyses. The class will be followed with a more detailed course in June.
Tribal Nations Utility Virtual Technical Assistance Forum (Regions 1–4)
Thursday, May 21st | Online
Hosted by the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona & United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.
Tribal utilities located in regions 1–4 can participate in this this free, live guided forum to discuss among peers challenges and solutions in maintaining critical operations during the novel coronavirus.
Funding and Financing Strategies for Integrated Hazard Mitigation and Water Resource Plans
Wednesday, May 27th | Online
Hosted by the Environmental Finance Center Network
To manage resources and mitigate potential hazards under ongoing and future utility challenges requires financial planning. In this webinar, utilities will learn how to incorporate funding and financial strategies into integrated plans.
Sludge Accumulation and Removal in Wastewater Lagoon Systems
Thursday, May 28th | Online
Hosted by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
This webinar will overview sludge accumulation challenges, solutions, and monitoring. Operators will learn how to determine sludge mass through proper sludge judging and core sampling techniques.
Comprehensive Revised Total Coliform Rule Overview
Thursday, June 4th | Online
Hosted by the Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Use this two-part course to overview compliance with the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR).
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Want to find additional training opportunities for operators,
including events in your area?
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Reclamation Awards $1.1M to Six Tribes for Water Resource Technical Assistance
Funding through the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance to Tribes Program will help six tribes to develop, manage, and protect water resources.
Navajo Nation's Water Shortage May Be Supporting COVID-19 Spread
A lack of running water contributes to the high infection rate on the Navajo Nation.
Water Quality Set Up at KBIC Reservation
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has been approved to set water quality standards for the L'Anse reservation.
UMN Research Discovers Concerning Chemicals in Grand Portage Tribal Waters
Unexpectedly high levels of emerging chemicals of concern were found in this waters of the Grand Portage Indian Reservation.
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WaterOperator.org—formerly SmallWaterSupply.org—is a free, grant-funded service to support small community water and wastewater operators with comprehensive resources and information in one easy-to-use place. We also serve the 800+ training, primacy, and technical service organizations, by helping operators get to their information. We aren't buying, selling, or advertising anything. You can call us at 1-866-522-2681 if you need assistance.
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Recently at WaterOperator.org
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ISAWWA COVID-19 Utility Impact Survey
A report by the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association highlights operational, managerial, and financial changes implemented in response to the COVID-19 as well as system concerns and needs moving forward. In this post, utilities will learn about the survey findings including how system size impacts pandemic response.
Challenges Developing an Asset Management Program
In 2017 the Michigan Water Environment Association and Michigan Section American Water Works Association hosted a roundtable seminar to discuss challenges faced during asset management program development. In this post we highlight these challenges to prepare utilities for the development of their own programs.
RCAP Advocacy and Policy Update: COVID-19 Response
The Rural Community Assistance Partnership remains active promoting the needs of rural water systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our latest blog post RCAP's Ted Stiger offers an update on enacted legislation related to the pandemic.
WaterOperator.org Recommends Agencies Postpone Operator Certification Renewals During COVID-19
As operators tackle the challenges associated with the coronavirus, it is at the recommendation of WaterOperator.org to certifying agencies to extend or postpone the deadline for continuing education requirements and the recertification of licenses.
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