Guest Commentary

PRO: Little Colorado River Settlement Would Provide Safe Drinking Water

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly in Native Condition. Discussion »

“Our people are drinking water from wells that may not be safe for drinking. We have to take this opportunity to get our people safe drinking water. The settlement will help us build water lines that would do that for our people,”

Navajo President Ben Shelly

President Shelly said.

About 30 percent of Navajo homes don't have access to safe drinking water, according to information provided by the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency.

In addition, the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency regulates more than 160 water public water systems to ensure the safety of the water, but does not regulate livestock wells or natural springs.

“There are many conditions that can lead to unsafe water,”

President Shelly said.

Some conditions maybe poor storage containers and poor water sources.

The Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency stated some unregulated water sources could contain natural minerals like arsenic, uranium and magnesium. Also, unregulated sources of water could contain bacteria such as e coli, fecal coliform, as well as viruses.

“We need to create more access to clean drinking water for our children. Our children are drinking this water and we need to do what we can to get them clean drinking water.”

“We can do that with the Little Colorado River Water Settlement. We need to think about them, our children. They are our future,”

President Shelly said.

President Ben Shelly, after serving as a Navajo Nation Council Delegate for sixteen years and four years as Vice President in the Shirley-Shelly Administration, was sworn in as President of the Navajo Nation on January 11, 2011.

posted July 3, 2012 2:10 pm edt