Field Notes
Thank You
You brought clean, hot and cold running water to Halburt and completely transformed his life.
When we imagine life without clean, running water, we often think of communities that barely resemble our own. But right here in the United States, more than 2 million people still don’t have running water.
Because of you, Halburt isn’t one of them.
Halburt has lived in his trailer for six years without running water. For his water supply, he relied on hauling water from nearby sources or purchasing bottled water.
Now, with his newly installed water system, Halburt is excited about being able to wash dishes with clean, hot water. The home water system will also save Halburt money, which he will be able to use to pay bills. Halburt is looking forward to the time he will now save, which will allow him to focus on the things that bring him joy, like fixing his trailer and watching his favorite hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Halburt is very grateful to have running water in his home and extends his thanks to all of the donors who generously supported this project.
Welcome to Northwestern New Mexico, just off of Route 66 near the Continental Divide. Halburt calls this beautiful place home.
Town/Chapter: Baca
State: New Mexico
Coordinates: 35.653661, -108.028822
Installed: October 23, 2019
Technology: Home Water System
Water Source: Truck
Local Partner: St. Bonaventure School
Every DIGDEEP project is designed for the family and community it serves. Our clients contribute their own time and resources during installation and are trained to use and maintain the equipment we install. We use simple technology with locally-available parts, and we’re constantly available to make repairs. We take a Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) that measures the way water access achieves other key goals like health, gender equity, and access to education.
Navajo are 67 times more likely than other Americans to live without running water or a toilet. That's an injustice.
more than 2 million americans without running water or plumbing
about 1/3 of navajo families haul water home every day
navajo pay 67x more for the water they haul vs. piped water
Our neighbors without running water wake up and collect water from a source outside their home, buying it in bottles or fetching it in buckets. When desperate, some haul water from unsafe sources contaminated with bacteria, arsenic or even uranium.
Many Navajo worry that they will never get running water, but when they hear about DigDeep, they know there is hope.
Our Navajo Water Project is a community-managed utility alternative that brings hot and cold running water to homes without access to water or sewer lines. It's the first system of its kind in the United States.
How it works:
wells
we develop new sources where water is pumped, treated and stored locally
trucks
we deliver water in food grade trucks to hundreds of families living close to each source
water systems
our home water systems store 1200 gallons of water underground and use solar power to pump it inside
community
the entire project is guided by a council of clients and local leaders
It costs $53.21 for us to deliver water to Halburt every month.
You can sponsor that amount every month, make a new gift to a family in need, or even give in someone's name. There are hundreds of families like this one waiting for a water system of their own.
100% of your gift will fund a water project.
We’re so glad you trusted us with your hard earned resources; they’re going to make an incredible difference in Halburt’s life. On behalf of the entire DigDeep family and the communities we serve, thank you.
Give clean, running water.