In the Navajo Nation, approximately 30% of people don’t have access to reliable drinking water [1]. Many wells go unregulated and therefore aren’t regularly tested [9]. This means that people who source their water from these wells may unknowingly consume unsafe, contaminated water. This makes water quality testing integral to the safety and health of people in this region.
There are many different types of contaminants such as physical, biological, chemical, and radiological contaminants [2]. In the Navajo nation, the most prominent contaminants are the heavy metals uranium and arsenic [3]. Experts estimate that due to abandoned uranium mines, 85% of all Navajo homes are contaminated with uranium [10]. Since there are many unregulated water sources in the Navajo Nation, high concentrations of uranium and arsenic above drinking water standards in these sources pose an especially serious threat.
We suggest that schools and students use water quality testing as an educational tool. Through this, students have the opportunity to learn more about water contamination, potential solutions, and available technologies for testing. Through this, students can make an impact on their community. There are many options and methods when it comes to testing water quality. The easiest and most accessible option is test strips, which can be ordered online. When used, these detect the presence of certain chemicals, typically through pH or chlorine, by changing color [4]. The 16-in-1 Water Test Kit from SJ Wave [Figure 1] can test for 16 different parameters and can be purchased from Amazon (~$25) [11]. However, this option is not the most accurate for testing water quality, especially because of user error, and is not the most useful for the Navajo Nation specifically [5].
An alternative option is color disk kits. For color disk kits, users put a water sample into a test tube. Then the user adds reagents and the water changes color [4]. Users can then compare the color of the water to the color disk to figure out the concentration of a contaminant. These kits can also be purchased online and depending on the kit, it can test for different parameters such as chlorine, copper, and phosphates. For example, the Hach Company chlorine test kit [Figure 2] can be purchased on Amazon for ~$140 [12]. This is slightly more complicated than test strips because it requires more steps and has more room for user error, but provides more detailed information.
Another option is the use of digital instruments, which provide a lot of information. There are many devices that each measure a different indicator of water quality (e.g. pH, conductivity, turbidity) [6]. These are difficult to use and extremely expensive, so it is best if they are operated by professionals. For example, a turbidity tester like the Hach 2100Q Portable Turbidimeter [Figure 3] costs several thousand depending on the merchant [6]. For the most thorough analysis of water quality, professional lab tests are much more expensive, but the best option [4].
Depending on the circumstances, the best method to test water quality may be different. For uranium and arsenic testing, lab testing is the standard and best choice. An arsenic test can be purchased for $62 and a uranium test [Figure 4] can be purchased for $69 from a lab such as National Testing Laboratories, Ltd. [7][8]. Once the test kit is received, the user collects a sample of the water, ships it to the lab, and then receives an in-depth report on the water quality.
No matter what students choose for how they want to test their water quality, they will be able to learn a lot more about water contamination in general, in the Navajo Nation, and in their region.
Works Cited:
[1] Home. Navajo Nation Water Resources. (n.d.). https://nndwr.navajo-nsn.gov/#:~:text=Approximately%20thirty%20percent%20of%20the,care%2C%20schools%20and%20other%20facilities.
[2] Vestergaard, A. (2022, September 5). Four types of contaminants in drinking water. Aquaporin. https://aquaporin.com/contaminants-drinking-water/.
[4] The 5 best ways to test your water quality. ETR Laboratories, Inc. (n.d.). https://etrlabs.com/different-types-of-ways-to-test-your-water-quality/.
[5] How to test water quality? Chemical tests for limited budgets. World Bank Blogs. (n.d.). https://blogs.worldbank.org/water/how-test-water-quality-chemical-tests-limited-budgets
[6] Water Quality Test Equipment. Water Quality Testing Equipment | Applied Membranes Inc. (n.d.). https://appliedmembranes.com/test-kits-and-equipment-for-testing-water-quality.html
[7] Arsenic. Watercheck. (n.d.). https://watercheck.com/products/arsenic?variant=2836319305754¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQiAveebBhD_ARIsAFaAvrG2bzXjyF3xkFylQ8QHjjJWD3JQOiA6hQFatdF7C3_cPwypAs00iLQaArUREALw_wcB.
[8] Uranium. Watercheck. (n.d.). https://watercheck.com/products/uranium?gclid=Cj0KCQiAveebBhD_ARIsAFaAvrGo0opFtTuLAT2mVc9RqQe6mCleDdniyI9mgEqXruHQpTbncMC4waEaAiQQEALw_wcB.
[9] Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. https://www.epa.gov/navajo-nation-uranium-cleanup/providing-safe-drinking-water-areas-abandoned-uranium-mines.
[10] Calvert , M. F. (2021, February 23). Toxic legacy of uranium mines on Navajo Nation confronts Interior nominee Deb Haaland. Pulitzer Center. https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/toxic-legacy-uranium-mines-navajo-nation-confronts-interior-nominee-deb-haaland.
[11] Amazon.com: Water testing kits for drinking water,16 in 1,premium water … (n.d.). https://www.amazon.com/Drinking-Aquarium-Sensitivity-Hardness-Chlorine/dp/B09KMMLJGC.
[12] Schwartz, A., & Nocella, S. (1977). Stores. Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/867D34A5-467D-4E14-8296-C83606DACC35?ingress=2&visitId=064fdc1c-1d98-4ce4-a9a5-953a62305d13&ref_=ast_bln.