Bill could help provide water to Navajo Nation

On June 4, the U.S. Senate approved a bill to settle longstanding water rights questions for the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation.

Supporters hope the bill, if passed into law, would help extend drinking water to many of the isolated corners of San Juan County.

It would transfer of up to 81,500 acre-feet from Utah’s portion of the Colorado River Basin water. The bill includes $210 million for water infrastructure in San Juan County.

Utah will contribute $8 million in funding towards the settlement.

The Senate bill was sponsored by Mitt Romney, while the House sponsors are John Curtis and Rob Bishop.

Senator Romney stated, “With this legislation, we will be able to provide access to water and wastewater facilities for the Navajo Nation and also provide the long-needed water infrastructure for its citizens.”