Malynndra Tome was engaged in mapping livestock ponds within the Navajo Nation when she witnessed an occurrence that prompted her to take action. Observing an elderly woman filling milk jugs with water at a gas station in the reservation—where around 30% of the population lacks access to running water—struck a nerve with Tome. “How is it possible that in the United States, one of the world’s most powerful countries, people are living in such conditions?” pondered Tome, who hails from Ganado, Arizona, situated in the largest Native American reservation spanning 27,000 square miles across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
A recent report released on Tuesday sheds light on strategies for historically overlooked communities at high risk from climate change, like Tome’s, to establish durable water and wastewater infrastructures. Key recommendations include utilizing nature-based solutions, tailoring strategies to meet specific community needs, and integrating technology, while acknowledging the hurdles to their deployment.
Shannon McNeeley, an author of the report and a senior researcher with the Pacific Institute, which collaborated with DigDeep and the Center for Water Security and Cooperation on the publication, remarked, “Our aim with this report is to instill hope. Despite uncertainties surrounding major federal funding sources, I am confident that communities will discover alternative solutions.”
The impacts of climate change have exacerbated weather extremes, disrupting water access. In September, Hurricane Helene’s devastation to a local water system placed over 100,000 residents in western North Carolina under boil-water advisories for almost two months. Furthermore, wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year led certain water suppliers to classify their drinking water as unsafe, compelling a Pasadena utility to issue its first-ever notice in over a century of service.
Numerous aging water systems across the nation lose trillions of gallons annually, leaving impoverished communities grappling with substantial financial burdens to undertake repairs. Within the Navajo Nation, approximately 30% of homes are devoid of running water, and residents frequently embark on lengthy journeys to collect water from public taps, as reported by the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources alongside the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The report also indicates that with Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, certain federal funds and resources have dwindled. The administration has halted or reduced financing for vital water infrastructure projects, overturned diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and rescinded environmental justice policies intended to safeguard the communities at the report’s heart.
Greg Pierce, who directs the Human Right to Water Solutions Lab at UCLA, emphasized that “the report arrives during a deeply discouraging period, given the anticipated lack of federal intervention in this domain for the foreseeable future.”
Drawing from existing academic studies, government and private reports, and expert interviews, the report underscores the importance of technology—such as rainwater harvesting and gray water reuse systems—in lowering water demand and boosting resilience against drought. However, the costs associated with deploying and maintaining such technology can be prohibitive for economically disadvantaged communities.
Additionally, the report supports nature-based solutions, such as wetlands, which have been shown in studies to mitigate droughts’ severity and duration, offer flood protection, filter out pollutants, and safeguard water sources. Across the country, the value of wetlands is gaining recognition. The Florida Everglades serves as a prime example, where officials have dedicated billions to developing constructed wetlands that purify and defend a crucial water supply.
The report advocates for government-supported water assistance initiatives to assist low-income households with their water and sewer expenses. An example is the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gregory Moller, a professor in the soil and water systems department at the University of Idaho, cautioned that some solutions are excessively complex and costly for under-resourced communities. “Our innovations must be adaptable for small systems,” he asserted, highlighting a significant challenge.
Nevertheless, some solutions mentioned in the report are already benefiting communities. For instance, in the Navajo Nation, solar-powered home water systems have supplied running water to over 2,000 individuals. Kimberly Lemme, an executive director at DigDeep, acknowledged the complexity and length of the installation process but emphasized that such solutions are indeed possible.
“Water is a fundamental human right,” Tome stated, motivated by her encounter with the elderly woman to pursue a doctorate in water resources. “Ensuring productiveness and health in people’s lives demands reliable access to water.”
