PWSSP is Now a Primacy Program
The Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency's Public Water Systems Supervision Program is now being represented as a
Primacy Program, based on U.S. EPA-Region 9's approval of  the Primary Enforcement Authority over most of the water systems
on the Navajo Nation.
Public Water Systems and Their Categories
  • Community Water Systems (CWS) a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round
    residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.
  • Non-Transient, Non-Community Water Systems (NTNCWS) a public water systems that is not a “community water system”
    and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons for more than 6 months per year, including but not limited to
    schools, factories and public buildings.
  • Transient, Non-Community Water Systems (TNCWS) a public water systems that is neither a “community water system”
    nor a “non-transient non-community water system,” including but not limited to seasonal facilities such as children’s camps or
    recreational camping areas; and year-round facilities that serve more than 25 persons who are not residents thereof, such as
    gasoline service stations, marinas, rest areas and restaurants that are not served by a community water system. These
    systems are required to sample bacteriological quality on a quarterly basis and for nitrate/nitrite annually.
  • Consecutive Public Water Systems a public water systems that purchase water from a primary purveyor. This type of water
    system typically purchases water, pumps the water into their own storage tanks and distributes the water through their own
    pipes (i.e., schools, stores, etc.) These systems are required to monitor for bacteriological quality on a monthly basis,
    lead/copper, and asbestos (if asbestos-cement (AC) pipe is used in the distribution).
Breakdown of PWS’s within the Navajo Jurisdiction
Number of Water Systems by Owners
 # of Systems
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
 94
Tribal, governments (Navajo Nation Water Resources, Navajo Parks & Recreation, etc.)
 9
Tribal, chapters
 4
Tribal, utilities (Ramah Navajo Utility Authority)
 4
Businesses (Black Mesa Shopping Center, Tsegi Anasazi Inn, Burnham Junction Mustang)
 8
Companies (Peabody Western Coal Company, El Paso Natural Gas, Enron)
 5
Federal, governments (National Park Service)
 2
Institutions, health (Ganado Sage Memorial Hospital, MV Mission Hospital, etc.)
 2
Missions & Churches (Navajo Gospel Mission, White Post Mission)
 2
Schools, BIA
 33
Schools, Grant
 7
Schools, Private (St. Michaels Indian School and Immanuel Mission)
 2
Schools, Public
 9
Grand Total of PWS’s
 182
Public Water Systems (PWS)