WATER · ISSUE 1 OF 5
Hauling Water
What it is
Roughly 30% of homes on the Navajo Nation have no running water. Families drive to fill barrels — sometimes thirty miles round trip. LaVonne Tsosie described boiling snow as a child. Shaquille Begay said in 2026: “We’re currently in 2026, and we’re still talking about water issues. We don’t have running water.” Mikhail Ganadonegro named water first among things his community waits years for.
The gap: No candidate stated how many homes in their own chapter lack running water. The number exists — it was not named.
Learn
Understand the system — then consult an expert
Infrastructure 101 — who owns which system and why projects stall.
Why People Stay Sick — water as a root cause of health outcomes.
Who’s in Charge? — NTUA, IHS, chapters, and federal agencies: the water jurisdiction map.
Consult an expert: Ask about water access →
Plan & Assess
Where candidates stand — weigh it yourself
Infrastructure — candidates side by side — what each candidate said about water access.
Boil snow — the full record — what 40 of 42 said, with verbatim quotes.
Ask any candidate: How many homes in this chapter still haul water? What is your plan? Full question list →
Act
What you can do now
Request it: Ask your chapter how many homes lack running water and what waterline projects are pending. How to request the record →
Report & track: Community water survey → · Community Findings → · Share what you observe →
Report & Monitor
Track progress — hold the right office accountable
What should be public: Chapter waterline project status, funding, and timeline. What should be public →
Monitor the office: IHS tracks water and sanitation needs. NTUA reports to the Council. The chapter is the first door for a local waterline question.