Public Water Systems (PWS)
Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency • Public Water Systems Supervision Program
Public Water Systems and Their Categories

  • Community Water Systems (CWS) a public water system which serves at least 15 service
    connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.
  • Non-Transient, Non-Community Water Systems (NTNCWS) a public water systems that is not a
    “community water system” and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons for more than 6
    months per year, including but not limited to schools, factories and public buildings.
  • Transient, Non-Community Water Systems (TNCWS) a public water systems that is neither a
    “community water system” nor a “non-transient non-community water system,” including but not
    limited to seasonal facilities such as children’s camps or recreational camping areas; and year-
    round facilities that serve more than 25 persons who are not residents thereof, such as gasoline
    service stations, marinas, rest areas and restaurants that are not served by a community water
    system. These systems are required to sample bacteriological quality on a quarterly basis and for
    nitrate/nitrite annually.
  • Consecutive Public Water Systems a public water systems that purchase water from a primary
    purveyor. This type of water system typically purchases water, pumps the water into their own storage
    tanks and distributes the water through their own pipes (i.e., schools, stores, etc.) These systems are
    required to monitor for bacteriological quality on a monthly basis, lead/copper, and asbestos (if
    asbestos-cement (AC) pipe is used in the distribution).
Breakdown of PWS’s within the Navajo Jurisdiction
Number of Water Systems by Owners
 # of Systems
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
 94
Tribal, governments (Navajo Nation Water Resources, Navajo Parks & Recreation, etc.)
 9
Tribal, chapters
 4
Tribal, utilities (Ramah Navajo Utility Authority)
 4
Businesses (Black Mesa Shopping Center, Tsegi Anasazi Inn, Burnham Junction
Mustang)
 8
Companies (Peabody Western Coal Company, El Paso Natural Gas, TWP)
 5
Federal, governments (National Park Service)
 2
Institutions, health (Ganado Sage Memorial Hospital, MV Mission Hospital, etc.)
 2
Missions & Churches (Navajo Gospel Mission, White Post Mission)
 2
Schools, BIA
 33
Schools, Grant
 7
Schools, Private (St. Michaels Indian School and Immanuel Mission)
 2
Schools, Public
 9
Grand Total of PWS’s
 182
Sanitary Survey Inspections

PWSSP conducts 75-80 on-site sanitary survey inspections per year depending on condition of the water
PWSSP conducts inspections of all public water systems under the jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation. These
inspections are conducted to evaluate the adequacy of the source, facilities, equipment, operation and
maintenance for producing and distributing safe drinking water.

Follow-up inspections are conducted from 6
months to a year depending on the condition of
the PWS and their compliance status.
Groundwater inspections are conducted on a
2-5 year basis depending on the condition of the
PWS. Surface water and Groundwater Under the
Direct Influence (GWUDI) of Surface Water
inspections are conducted on an annual basis.

Many abandoned wells are frequently found during scheduled water inspections.  The PWSSP is currently
working with the Department of Water Resources to ensure the proper abandonment of these types of wells.  
In the interim, PWSSP recommends that these wells be welded with a metal cap.

These types of wells posed a threat to the overall quality of an aquifer.  These wells are not typically covered
or protected from any potential threat of contamination.