From August 26-30, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will participate in the global celebration of World Water Week.
An estimated 48 percent of households on Native American reservations lack access to clean drinking water or adequate sanitation. (PDF) OCS recognizes the particular need for safe, clean, and affordable water to ensure a sustainable future within tribal communities, and shares how one tribe used an HHS program to address the needs of its community members.
Tohono O'odham Utilities Authority (TOUA) leverages HHS program to build capacity and improve access
Just west of Tucson, Arizona, sits the homeland of the Tohono O'odham Tribe. In the extreme heat and dry conditions of the Sonoran Desert, TOUA maintains the health and well-being of tribal members by ensuring access to essential services like water and wastewater treatment.
When TOUA began working within the Tohono O'odham Nation decades ago, many families lacked access to these essential services. By partnering with OCS and the Indian Health Service (IHS) and other federal partners, TOUA has significantly improved access. Today, TOUA operates 34 water systems serving 3,400 customers throughout the Tohono O'odham Nation.
TOUA received Training and Technology (TTA) from two OCS Rural Community Development (RCD) program grant recipients: Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) and the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA). The RCD program works with local and tribal organizations to provide TTA to help manage water systems in rural areas.
“Helping small utilities implement necessary rate adjustments is not a glamorous job, but such efforts are essential to building sustainable systems that can provide clean, reliable drinking water to the rural communities they serve.”
— Carl Pennock, RCAC Rural Development Specialist
TOUA worked with RCAC to conduct a comprehensive rate study to allow for cost allocation based on usage. Water utilities rely on water rates to cover their operational costs, and a rate study ensures that rates are set fairly.
Additionally, TOUA has participated in ITCA's Water and Wastewater Treatment System Operator Training and Certification course. Water and wastewater treatment system operators are a high priority for workforce development. Hiring and retaining operators can be difficult in rural areas. ITCA provided TOUA with five training sessions, supported the renewal of 14 operator certifications, and conducted two testing sessions. These sessions enable TOUA to certify the operators needed to maintain water systems.
TOUA also participated in the Low-Income Water Assistance Program for Homeowners (LIHWAP) to help low-income families access water service. OCS launched LIHWAP in 2021 to provide financial assistance to families struggling to pay their water bills. Approximately 60% of tribal members served by TOUA are low-income. For many tribal members, receiving assistance meant no longer having to choose between paying their water bill and buying groceries. For TOUA, LIHWAP benefits ensured the revenue they needed to operate their water system.
TOUA has partnered extensively with IHS, an HHS subsidiary, to build the infrastructure needed to improve water quality and expand access to water and wastewater treatment services.
Before work began, tribal members received water from communal collection points or small, shallow wells. With a grant from the IHS Sanitation Construction Division, TOUA began phasing out the small wells and building a community water system. Where once there were hundreds of wells across the country, there are now just 57. The consolidation process allowed households to connect to the community water system, expanding access. Fewer wells also made monitoring and maintenance easier, and water quality improved.
TOUA has created a multi-faceted approach to improving outcomes for Tribal members. However, there is still work to be done. Some areas of the nation are still not connected to water or sewer service, and many Tribal members struggle to pay their water bills even after they are connected to service. To build on this progress and address these ongoing challenges, continued Federal investment is essential to ensure all Tribal members have access to the critical services they need to live rich and fulfilling lives.
