Success Stories: Lake Valley, New Mexico Gets Water For the First Time

Outline of Need:

The residents of Lake Valley, New Mexico, who live in the middle of the Navajo Nation, have never had a water system. Because homes are located in some places miles apart a traditional piped water system was not economically feasible. So a central point for a water system was created at Lake Valley where people can get water.

How Rural Development Helped:

USDA Rural Development joined with three other partners and provided $520,000 funding package to construct this new water system. The partnership included:

• $305,000 grant by USDA Rural Development
• $75,000 New Mexico Environmental Department Grant
• $25,000 grant by the Clearwater Project (a private foundation founded by the singer Jewel)
• $115,000 in-kind Navajo Nation land donation

The Results:

The new pipeline means that for the first time ever residents of this remote community will not have to drive to Crownpoint - a 50 mile round trip - to haul water to their homes ever again.

When Lake Valley resident Venton Yazzie saw the water flowing he said, "Water makes you feel more alive. It's hard driving a long ways on dirt roads to haul water. This project makes it a lot easier. A lot of folks [in Lake Valley] don't have showers or bathrooms. At my place, we have a trailer home with a water heater, shower and everything, but we've never used it, because we didn't have water."

Lake Valley Community Health Worker Jacque Jim-Shorty added that the new water system would change their way of life, especially when it comes to the health of this small Navajo community. Ms. Shorty said, "I know one woman with diabetes. She can't drive because of diabetes, and her husband never learned how to drive. With limited water, she couldn't wash her wounds, and so she had to have her leg amputated below the knee. The new watering point will make it very easy for them to get enough water to use everyday."

After the dedication ceremony, Mrs. Eltha Juan, an elder in the community, inserted the pre-paid water card and turned on the water for the first time. As the water gushed out of the pipe, the gathered crowd broke into applause. Mrs. Juan then went to the pipe with cupped hands and drank. She then blessed herself by patting the water on the top of her head.

Said Mrs. Juan, "It's so beautiful. I can't believe it. We finally have water after all these years."

(January 2003)

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