Jacobs has been selected by the US Bureau of Reclamation to design and construct the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant in northwest New Mexico.
Valued at $267m, the facility is the largest and most significant element of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
Before the commencement of this initiative, over 40% of households within the Navajo Nation depended on hauling water to fulfil their daily requirements.
To this day, the Navajo Nation estimates that more than one-third of households continue to rely on hauled water. Once completed, the project will supply water to around 250,000 people across 43 Navajo chapters.
Jacobs will be responsible for designing and building the plant, which will initially treat up to 18.8 million gallons of water per day, with the option to double its capacity.
At full capacity, the plant will be able to serve more than 200,000 people. The project also encompasses the commissioning of the San Juan Lateral distribution system, as well as ongoing operations and maintenance.
Jacobs Design-Build and Operations Management and Facilities Services vice president Greg Fischer said: “Critical to improving the living conditions for Navajo communities, in addition to basic drinking water, this plant will provide water for commercial and retail businesses, health care, schools and other facilities.
“Our approach provides the Bureau of Reclamation a more efficient way of delivering critical infrastructure necessary to supply clean, reliable, long-term water for this community.”
Upon completion, the water supply project will divert 37,761 acre-feet of water annually from the San Juan River Basin through two water treatment plants delivered by Jacobs.
Once treated according to Safe Drinking Water Act standards, the water will be transported via nearly 300 miles of pipeline, supported by 19 pumping plants and several storage tanks.
The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, partially funded by the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will provide safe drinking water to Navajo communities in Gallup, New Mexico, and Window Rock, Arizona.
The project is currently 70% complete, with initial water deliveries anticipated by late 2028, and full completion expected by the end of 2029.
