Groundwater Quality around Dilkon Chapter, Navajo Nation

More than 30% of Navajo Nation residents lack access to running water.17 In the Dilkon Chapter this number is as high as 41%.18 To access water, many residents haul water as far as 50 miles round trip from both regulated and unregulated water sources.17 Testing of nine wells, one (1) regulated and eight (8) unregulated, in the Dilkon Chapter showed that there were concentrations of uranium, arsenic, and total dissolved solids (TDS) over the recommended levels for a variety of water uses. The purpose of this paper is to provide groundwater consumers around Dilkon Chapter on the Navajo Nation (Figure 1) with information about unregulated groundwater sources, water quality regulation, common water contaminants, and general information about well design and upkeep.