Office of Environmental Health and Engineering

Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction (DSFC)

 

Program Goals

• To improve the health of the Navajo people.
• To construct essential sanitation facilities, including individual and community water facilities, sewer treatment facilities, & solid waste disposal facilities.

Services Provided

• Feasibility studies for proposed community and individual facilities.
• Technical assistance and engineering expertise.
• Sanitary surveys of public water and wastewater systems.
• Design, engineering, and construction of sanitation facilities including:
  • Water mainlines & house service lines
  • Community sewage lagoon
  • Septic tanks and drainfields
  • Plumbing facilities
  • Community water storage tank
  • Water wells & pumphouses
  • Cistern tank systems (for medical referrals only)
• Homeowner operation & maintenance training, motivation, & education.

Service Unit Area

Coppermine	Cameron
Gap/Bodaway	Coalmine
Inscription House	LeChee
Kaibeto	Hardrock
Tuba City	Shonto
Tonalea	Navajo Mountain

Allocation of Public Law 86-121 Funds

The funding for sanitation facilities construction varies from year to year, depending on the amount of funding the U.S. Congress allocates to the Indian Health Service. Other contributions are sought from various agencies such as the Navajo Nation through community development block grants or capital improvement programs, HUD grants through the Navajo Housing Authority, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of Navajo-Hopi Indian Relocation Commission.

Construction of Public Law 86-121 facilities

The agreement between the Navajo Nation and the IHS to construct sanitation facilities is the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The enterprise of the Navajo Nation that is responsible for these construction activities is the Navajo Engineering Construction Authority (NECA). Other construction services not provided by NECA are contracted out to subcontractors.

Operation & Maintenance of Facilities

The organization responsible for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of community sanitation facilities constructed by the IHS within the Tuba City Service Unit is usually the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA). In some smaller community systems, the O&M responsibilities are handled by the Navajo Nation’s Division of Water Resources. The homeowner accepts the O&M for individual systems, such as septic tanks and drainfields. All facilities constructed by IHS are provided with a 12-month warranty period.

How to obtain sanitation facilities for your home

A request for water and wastewater facilities for domestic use is done by application. Please come to our office and pick one up. Other available options include recommendations from chapter resolutions, medical staff, community health representatives, etc. The IHS will work within established guidelines and make every attempt to serve homeowners with individual and community sanitation facilities.