Septic Tank Cleaning #1 (2025)

In 2022 our implementing partner, DigDeep, conducted a sanitation pilot to better understand the issue on the Navajo Nation. They learned that many of their clients, who they had been serving through their water programs, were also lacking access to basic sanitation, like a flush toilet, in their homes. Many families rely on outhouses, while others have septic systems in place, but they are not operational and many families cannot afford the high costs associated with repair. They also learned that some homes may be eligible for connection to mainline sewer services, but because their bathrooms were out of code, they were unable to connect to these services. 

As a result of these learnings, DigDeep deepened its commitment to providing sanitation services to clients across the Navajo Nation. In 2023, as part of DigDeep’s sanitation pilot program, they completed 15 septic tank installations, 120 septic tank cleanings, 2 leach line replacements, and 9 bathroom upgrades—serving 466 people in 146 households. In addition, they installed its first-ever dual water and wastewater system, complete with a full Home Water System, a 1,000-gallon septic tank, and a toilet!