4 Everyday Geoscience

This session will focus on elevating the importance of geoscience through geoscience education (e.g., curricula development, leading fieldwork experiences, etc.) and/or convergence research (e.g., using community-focused research frameworks/methods, community-engaged research, etc.).

Monday, 18 May 2026
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Alvarado B

Sustaining Indigenous Life and Culture through Geoscience Education, Water and WASH Initiatives

Paper number: 4-8
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM

Authors

Abstract

Indigenous communities face persistent challenges, including extreme poverty and industrial contamination. Decades of restrictive federal policies have limited infrastructure development. Navajo Nation wide, about 30% of people lack access to clean drinking water. 100% of the population in our service area does not have a reliable and safe supply of drinking water. For many people, the only option is unsafe water from livestock wells, uranium-contaminated groundwater or improvised storage systems.

This project is a unique partnership among industry, academia, and non-profit organizations, which coordinates water hauling, rainwater harvesting, and filtration to meet the needs of isolated families. Securing sustainable access to safe water is essential not only for health, but for the survival of a unique culture whose subsistence lifestyle and deep ties to traditional land have endured for centuries. The ability of these families to remain on their ancestral land is threatened by the loss of traditional water sources due to climate change and contamination from uranium, arsenic, and microbial hazards.

Technical Solution: Rainwater Harvesting and Filtration Systems

The project deploys a rooftop rainwater harvesting and filtration system designed by the Water Resources Action Project (WRAP). This system collects rainwater from residential rooftops, channels it through gutters, and stores it in dedicated tanks. The harvested water then passes through a multi-stage filtration process, which removes physical debris, chemical contaminants, and biological hazards.

Community Engagement, Geoscience Education and Project Management

To ensure proper operation and maintenance, the DinéWRAPapp is provided to participants. Accessible via phones, tablets, and computers, the app guides users through a multi-step protocol for system checks, including monitoring water levels, inspecting filter integrity, and recording water quality measurements. The app is integrated into school curricula to promote STEM and environmental education for students.

Community engagement is managed by Forgotten People, a Diné grassroots organization with decades of experience delivering water, firewood, supplies, and WASH services at cultural gatherings, fostering trust among families. Students at Navajo Technical University and Star School are assisting with surveys to identify potential recipients. Project management and financial support are provided by World Emergency Relief, Native American Emergency Relief, and EcoLab, Inc.

While this work presents unique challenges, collaboration between scientific, industrial and grassroots organizations can transform these challenges into solutions.

 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 4

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026RM-410488

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