• The San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant is the largest and most important feature of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
• The plant will initially treat up to 18.8 million gallons of water per day, with the capacity to expand to 37.6 million gallons per day.
• The completion deadline for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project has been extended to December 31, 2029.

September 2, 2024 — The Bureau of Reclamation awarded Jacobs Project Management a $267 million contract on Friday for the design and construction of the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant in northwest New Mexico. This plant, the largest and most important part of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, will treat and deliver crucial drinking water to Navajo communities, Gallup, and Window Rock, fulfilling a commitment under the Navajo San Juan Indian Water Rights Settlement.

Project Funding and Capacity.

Nearly half of the project’s funding comes from the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The water treatment plant will initially be able to treat up to 18.8 million gallons of water per day to meet Safe Drinking Water Act standards, with the capacity to expand to 37.6 million gallons per day in the future.

Contract Details and Partnership.

Jacobs Project Management will build the water treatment plant near Shiprock, New Mexico. The contract also includes commissioning, computer control integration, and 12 months of operations and maintenance to test the plant and start initial water deliveries thoroughly.

Bart Deming, Construction Engineer/Manager of Reclamation’s Four Corners Construction Office, expressed confidence in the partnership with Jacobs, highlighting their successful completion of the Cutter Lateral Water Treatment in 2020 and their dedication to delivering safe drinking water to the Navajo people.

Project Extension and Background.

The completion deadline for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project has been extended to December 31, 2029, through an agreement between the Navajo Nation, the State of New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, and the United States. The U.S. Department of the Interior is currently finalizing this extension.

Addressing Water Scarcity.

The Project is crucial because the current groundwater supply in the region is insufficient and of poor quality. Groundwater fails to meet the needs of over 43 Navajo chapters, the city of Gallup, and the Teepee Junction area of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Gallup’s groundwater levels have dropped significantly, and many Navajo Nation households rely on hauling water. The project aims to provide a sustainable water supply for the future population of approximately 250,000 people in these communities.

Project Scope and Authorization.

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will convey water from the San Juan River through about 300 miles of pipeline, 19 pumping plants, and two water treatment plants. The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 authorized the construction of this project as a key part of the Navajo Nation San Juan River Basin Water Rights Settlement in New Mexico.

Image:

Rendering of the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant via US Bureau of Reclamation news release.

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