Is the water on the Navajo Nation safe to drink?
Fear not. Water in public water systems is completely safe and potable. It is tested on a regular basis to meet State and Federal standards. Because of the nature of the rock from which the water is pumped, the water can contain fine sediment which gives it a red color. This is not harmful to people or animals. The fine particulate s can build up on the inside of supply pipes over time. It can cause problems when doing laundry. I have been startled by pink underwear that was supposed to be white: A clod of iron rich sediment came loose from where it had built up on the inside of a main supply pipe and flowed into the washer during the rinse cycle and dyed my freshly washed clothes pink. This can be overcome by a cannister type filter on the water line, or by occasionally treating clothes to remove the iron stains. It is easy to tell when the pipes have been worked on with older systems. The water can run red until the lines clear.
