Navajo–Gallup Water Supply 

Project Newsletter 3rd Quarter, April 2019

Who’s the Water Going To?

By Pat Page - Bureau of Reclamation

The NGWSP will provide a clean, reliable water supply for residents and 

communities in the eastern portion of the Navajo Reservation (primarily in New 

Mexico but also the communities of Window Rock, St. Michaels, and Fort Defiance 

in Arizona), the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, and the 

city of Gallup, New Mexico. 

The treated drinking water will be available for municipal, industrial, and domestic 

uses in homes, schools, community buildings, and businesses. The project is being 

designed to meet current and future demands. 

The illustration shows how the water is allocated among the three project 

participants. Most of the water provided by the project (over 3⁄4 of the total) goes to 

the Navajo Nation. The remaining amount is allocated to the City of Gallup and the 

Jicarilla Apache Nation. 

The source of the water is from the San Juan River Basin and comes directly from 

the San Juan River including from water stored in Navajo Reservoir. The Navajo 

Nation’s water is from its 2010 water rights settlement on the San Juan River in New 

Mexico. The water for the Jicarilla Apache Nation, as well as the City of Gallup 

(via a water supply contract with the Jicarilla Apache Nation) comes from water 

allocated to the Jicarilla Apache Nation in their 1992 water rights settlement. 

77.19% 

Navajo Nation 

19.67% 

City of Gallup 

3.14% 

Jicarilla Apache Nation 

Faces of NGWSP 

Hello, my name is Jackie 

McKinney. Gallup has been my 

home since 1963, and since March 

2011, I have had the privilege to 

serve as the city’s Mayor. I was 

formally introduced to the NavajoGallup Water Supply Project when 

I was elected as mayor. In the last 

eight years I have seen the project 

move from ideas on paper to pipe 

in ground.

 The Project’s ability to supply 

a clean and renewable source of 

drinking water will be a huge asset 

for the entire region. The Project’s 

potential to drive economic 

development and improve the 

quality of life for residents has 

spurred partnerships between City, 

County, State, Federal, and Navajo 

Nation legislators and agencies. 

Those partnerships are potentially 

the biggest asset provided by the 

project. The challenge remaining 

for City, County, and Navajo 

Nation leadership is to continue to 

build on the existing relationships 

outside of NGWSP to realize full 

economic potential across the 

region. 

If you would like to learn more about the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, you can visit our 

website at https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/navajo/nav-gallup/. 
Navajo–Gallup Water Supply 

Project Newsletter

Reach 14.1 and 14.2 – 

Church Rock and Iyanbito Water Line Extension 

By Helena Shannon, P.E. - Indian Health Service to a new 660,000-gallon water storage tank and the existing 

The Bureau of Reclamation and 372,000-gallon tank. The Iyanbito pumps are being designed 

the Navajo Area Indian Health to deliver water, through 42,000 feet of 8-inch water pipe, to 

Service, Division of Sanitation a new 547,000-gallon and the existing 160,000-gallon water 

Facilities Construction, have storage tank. The proposed waterline alignment extends over 

collaborated to construct the hill northeast of the Church Rock community parallel to 

Reaches 14.1 and 14.2 of the the existing gas line. Reach 14.1 and 14.2 are currently at 90% 

NGWSP. The project will design phase and construction is anticipated to begin in 2020. 

provide additional water supply 

to the Navajo communities 

of Church Rock and Iyanbito 

north east of Gallup, New 

Mexico. The Church Rock and Iyanbito waterline extension 

begins at the newly constructed metering station (Gallup 

Regional System Reach 27.7), across the road from the new 

Church Rock Elementary School. The design includes a 

pump house which will house two large pumping systems 

designed to meet the current and future demand of the 

communities. The Church Rock pumps are being designed 

to deliver water, through 5,500 feet of 10-inch water pipe, 

Reach 14.1 Church Rock WST 

perimeter staking – Bobby James, Civil 

Engineer 

May 491 Chapters 

Group will meet 

14 Tuesday, May 14 

at 10 a.m. in the 

Newcomb Chapter 

House 

May Project 

Construction 

30 Committee will 

meet Thursday 

May 30 at 9 a.m. 

at the El Morro 

Events Center in 

Gallup 

June BBN9 Cutter 

Group will meet 

26 Wednesday June 

26 at 10 a.m. in 

the Counselor 

Chapter House 

June Navajo DNR 

Summit will be 

June 19 to 21 at 19-21 the Twin Arrows 

Resort 

Spotlight – The Gallup Regional System 

By DePauli Engineering & Surveying 

To say the service area of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP) is large 

is an understatement. This $1.16 billion project will provide a clean and renewable 

water source to residents of two states, four counties, and 43 Navajo Chapters. To 

serve a project area that big, the project is using regional approaches to deliver water. 

The Gallup Regional System, located on the southern end of San Juan Lateral, is one 

of the larger and more complex regional delivery systems. 

The GRS consists of water transmission and storage infrastructure including 

approximately 40 miles of waterline, three pump stations, 14 million gallons of 

storage, and various other control features. 

The GRS will receive and store water from the San Juan Lateral and deliver it to City, 

County, and Navajo Nation residents within and surrounding the City of Gallup. The 

planned improvements form a water transmission ring around the City of Gallup 

that will act as a “bypass highway” connecting the City of Gallup water system to 

the four NTUA water systems surrounding Gallup. 

Roughly 3.8 million gallons of storage is allocated for growth within and 

immediately adjacent to the City of Gallup. The remaining 10.2 million gallons of 

storage is allocated for growth in the surrounding Navajo Chapters. The result is a 

large regional system that will allow the delivery of water as far as Iyanbito to the 

east, Chichiltah to the south and Maneulito to the west. 

Gamerco Tanks - Part of Gallup Regional System 

Reach 27.5, will provide storage for both the City of 

Gallup and the Navajo Nation 

Gallup Regional System Heaton Pump Station 

finished interior

If you would like to learn more about the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, you can visit our 

website at https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/navajo/nav-gallup/.