Dine College

Project Title: Decision Support for Agricultural Reuse of Municipal Wastewater Effluent in the Navajo Nation.problem Statement: Efficient Water Use Is Critical to Advancing the Standard of Living on the Navajo Nation. Impediments to Increased Efficiency Arise From: (i) Lack of Economic Resources, Which Limits Capital Investment and Loan Repayment Capacity Through Revenue Generation; (II) Aging Water and Wastewater Infrastructure, (II) Low Population Density (~ 13 Per MI2 on Average and Often Much Less) That Makes Universal Extension of Delivered Water Economically Infeasible; (III) Environmental and Endangered Species Concerns; and (IV) Climate Effects That Will Further Stress Southwestern Water Resources. the Navajo Nation Must Pursue Expansion of Its Water Resources Portfolio via Non-traditional Avenues Such as Reuse of Reclaimed Wastewater.central Hypothesis: Use of Reclaimed Wastewater in Agriculture Can Mitigate Water Stress and Offset Fertilizer Costs, Partially Avoiding the Cost of Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades.primary Goal: the Project Will Identify and Address Potential Technical and Social Impediments to Agricultural Use of Reclaimed Wastewater. It Addresses Tcrgp Priority Area A9101, the Safe Use of Non-traditional Water Sources Such As...recycled, and Treated Waters.proposal: the Multidisciplinary Team Will Execute Coordinated Research, Extension and Educational Activities Supporting Decisions Related to Use of Reclaimed Wastewater for Food Production in Navajo Communities.methods: Activities Will Include (i) Effluent Sampling and Conventional Analysis at Wastewater Treatment Plants Across the Navajo Nation, (II) Determination of Effluent Microbiological Quality via Cell Culturing and Pcr/rt-pcr, (III) Screening for Trace Organic Contaminants in Effluents Using Lcms/ms, (IV) Field Demonstrations in Communities (chapters) of the Navajo Nation Where Irrigation Using Reclaimed Wastewater Is Under Consideration, (V) Community Outreach and (VI) Stem Education in Water and Agriculture.expected Outcomes: Results Will Support Risk Modeling in the Area of Water Reuse. Potential Social Impediments Will Be Addressed Directly Through Community Workshops Involving Water Providers, Farmers and the Community at Large. Related Extension Agent Trainings, Workshops and Utility Education Will Be Carried Out Throughout the Study. Results Will Provide a Model Approach to the Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Agriculture That Extends Project Impact Far Beyond Its Immediate Results in the Navajo Nation.