… Across Indian Country, many reservations still lack access to safe drinking water. On the Navajo Nation—roughly the size of West Virginia—about 30% of citizens live without running water. A reservation where nearly one-third of residents lack running water exposes a stark divide between national wealth and daily reality. This is more than an infrastructure issue—it is a public health crisis, a matter of dignity, and an ongoing policy failure. Earlier this month, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs during a hearing that included review of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025. Nygren said a typical Navajo family that must haul water to meet basic needs spends an average of $600 per month. 
–Written by Levi Rickert, publisher and editor of Native News Online.

Other tribal water news:

• Unintended Consequences: Blog: Do rivers have rights?