On January 4th,2021, we launched Water is Life Fundraiser on Facebook, to continue supporting our Navajo brothers and sisters with clean water solutions. Turtle Island United commenced in May of 2020 in response to the challenges Native communities faced as a result of COVID-19, providing many pounds of PPE, medicines, food and winter gear to 15 communities across 6 states, and it is still ongoing.
The Navajo Nation is disproportionally affected by COVID-19, having the highest infections per capita due to 30% of people having no access to running or clean water at home.
The Bennet Freeze, implemented in 1966, is responsible for the economic disaster in the area. Among its effects is the lack of clean water, which has left the Navajo languishing in poverty. The Navajo aquifer containing 4.5 billion gallons of fresh water was completely used by the mining operations at Black Mesa. Our motto of water is life can be seen in other southwestern desert cities like Las Vegas, while misting wands at chain restaurants and acres of alfaalfa and cotton farms in the Sonoran Desert are the result.
In our search for water solutions, we have partnered with ZeroWater. They have provided filtration water pitchers and replacement filters at a deep discount. We are grateful to ZeroWater as these household filters will be going out to Navajo families in the most remote corners of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. They are being distributed by our Partners for Native Nations and Water Protectors, Bitahnii Wayne Wilson, JoAnn Whiting (K'eh Native Action), and Jim Standing Bear Wheatley.
ZeroWater filters provide 5-stage filtration system, removing and reducing suspended solids, pesticides, herbicides, and other organic contaminants, Mercury and other heavy metals, Chlorine, Chloramine, Fluoride, and radiological contaminants. https://zerowater.com/
ZeroWater filter has been ranked as one of the best performing household filters.
