Blessing and Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Milestone for Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project

A significant step towards bringing clean and reliable water to the Navajo communities in northwest New Mexico, Gallup, New Mexico, and Window Rock, Arizona, was celebrated on April 16, 2025, with a Navajo blessing ceremony and groundbreaking event for the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant. This vital facility is the largest and most crucial component of the ongoing Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren led the celebration and was joined by leaders and stakeholders from the Navajo Nation, Bureau of Reclamation, City of Gallup, State of New Mexico, and Jacobs. The day commenced with a traditional Navajo blessing ceremony, a deeply rooted custom that seeks permission to disturb the land and invites positive energy and harmony for the project ahead. The ceremony honored the earth through leadership songs and other sacred traditions, while also acknowledging the collaborative spirit of the various organizations working together to deliver this essential water infrastructure.

The San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant, with a construction cost of $267 million, is designed to treat up to 18.8 million gallons of water per day initially, with the capacity to more than double the treatment output to meet future demands. The treated water will be distributed through an extensive pipeline network, bringing a much-needed sustainable water source to communities that have long faced water scarcity. Construction of the treatment plant is anticipated to take over 3 years, with initial water deliveries expected by late 2028.