Regional coalition presents $136M–$200M planning estimate to address water access in Utah Navajo chapters; leaders press for co-planning
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Summary
Jones & DeMille Engineering and the Rural Utah Infrastructure Coalition presented a water-settlement planning study showing major capital needs for the Utah Navajo chapters and explained alternatives; chapter leaders urged inclusive, on-the-ground co-planning rather than top-down consultation.
Engineers for the Rural Utah Infrastructure Coalition presented a multi-year study on April 7, 2026, mapping water-service options for the Utah chapters of the Navajo Nation and estimating large capital costs to upgrade and expand systems.
Brian Barton of Jones & DeMille Engineering introduced the coalition's interactive GIS web map and technical work. Dan (presenter) described two primary water-system units (western and eastern) and said many homes in the Utah chapters lack piped water and rely on hauled water. He said the coalition evaluated alternatives including upgrades to treatment plants, upsized transmission piping, new wells and pipeline extensions. The presentation noted that interconnecting Halt Cheetah with nearby Mexican Hat was considered but was not judged viable because Mexican Hat lacks sufficient source and treatment capacity.
Dan gave cost estimates: "Just the existing system upgrades without extending the water lines too much further ... was around 136,000,000" and "totalling close to 185,000,000 to almost 200,000,000 to expand the water system throughout the Navajo Nation." Those figures were presented as planning-level estimates for the study area and not a county-funded commitment.
Several local chapter leaders, including the Annath chapter president, pressed for more direct co-planning and inclusion of chapter governments. They said chapters have been left out of prior conversations and asked the coalition and state partners to bring the study to local meetings. Coalition staff said the interactive map and study are intended to remain live and to be distributed to chapters and NTUA (Navajo Tribal Utility Authority) as the next step.
Commissioners and presenters agreed outreach and community engagement are needed; several commissioners volunteered to assist with local meetings in their districts. The study team said it was funded through the Utah Division of Drinking Water and urged further public meetings to move the study toward implementable projects.
Next steps: coalition staff to distribute study materials and coordinate meetings with Utah chapters, NTUA and county staff to refine alternatives and identify fundable projects.
