CPC 2018 Navajo Nation

COMMUNITY PLUMBING CHALLENGE 2018

Connecting with the Navajo Water Project from Oct 22–26, 2018

Bringing Access to Water and Sanitation to Families in the United States

The Navajo Water Project brings clean, running water to hundreds of families in rural New Mexico

Our new Community Plumbing Challenge program joined forces with DigDeep (a human rights non-profit working to ensure that every American has clean, running water forever) and provided technical support to its nationally recognized Navajo Water Project. This collaboration was hosted at St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School in Thoreau, a town in northwestern New Mexico.

40% of the Navajo Nation population (approximately 69,600 people) live without running water or a toilet

Residents are forced to haul water either from safe watering points or from unregulated sources, such as livestock wells and springs. This means that many households simply can’t get enough clean water – creating a cycle of poverty that limits health, happiness, educational opportunity, and economic security.

Focusing on education, hands-on skills development and public health awareness

The program incorporated the support and involvement of local and international partners, drawing specific focus to education, training and professional development in relevant skilled trades careers. Team members rallied together with local residents and leaders to solve issues and collaborate successfully across a variety of project sites and technical skillsets.

Addressing critical repair and renovation work in collaboration with local community

We put together a talented and multi-disciplined team of tradespeople to carry out plumbing and construction works over the course of an intensive, week-long project. The Community Plumbing Challenge Navajo Nation improved living conditions in ten households located across the Baca-Prewitt community: households nominated by DigDeep that represent the completion of the Navajo Water Project in this particular area of the reservation.

Since piloting as a small showcase at Singapore International Water Week 2014, more than 90 young professionals from five different countries have connected with the international Community Plumbing Challenge; joining our mission to demonstrate that Plumbing is vital to global health. Following programs in India (CPC2015), South Africa (CPC2016) and Indonesia (CPC2017), this year we moved to a country most would not know has these water and sanitation issues.

This program provided a life-changing experience for a select team of young, talented tradespeople from across the world… the personal and professional challenge of a lifetime.

Click Here to Read Project Wrap Up

Click Here to See Photos from the Project

CPC2018 Construction Week is presented by:
• IWSH (International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation)
• World Plumbing Council