WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren finalized an agreement March 20 totaling $7.8 million to deploy unique drinking water solutions to as many as 584 homes on the Navajo Nation.
The technology developed and manufactured by Source Global features the company’s hydro panels designed to produce water from humidity in the environment. Nearly 2,000 Navajo people are expected to be impacted.
“The first time I saw some hydro panels, I was on Blackrock near Canyon de Chelly,” Nygren said. “You can’t get water lines out there.”
The Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources stewarded the contract for the hydro panel systems through a sole-sourcing process.
The cutting-edge systems are uniquely designed to leverage solar power to extract clean drinking water directly from the air, functioning effectively across varying sunlight and humidity conditions.
Source Global shared that two panels can produce as much as a case of bottled water under average or “spec” conditions.
“We have a technology that can fundamentally change people’s lives and provide perfect drinking water at home,” said Dr. Cody Friesen, CEO of Source Global. “It’s a great responsibility and a great honor to be a part of solving some of that.”
The technology has previously been deployed to hundreds of Navajo homes lacking access to piped water. Jason John, DWR department manager, Jesse Hillis, program project specialist, Sean Begaye, senior project specialist, and Jerry Williams, consultant, spoke to the success of these systems and their confidence in the technology’s ability to meet immediate water needs for Navajo homes.
Under the contract’s scope of work, three hydro panels will be installed by Source Global technicians. Beneficiaries of the systems must meet specific requirements, including no piped water access. Cistern systems will not be considered piped water access.
Information from Office of the President and Vice President
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