Native American communities in eastern Arizona will benefit from a new source of clean drinking water, through a project sponsored by Resolution Copper and Stantec to deploy innovative renewable hydropanel technology.
Resolution Copper and Stantec are partnering with White Mountain Apache community members to provide 64 hydropanels on the Fort Apache Reservation, while also supporting hydropanel installation programs in other Native American communities.
“Due to high levels of manganese in the main water wells, our community has had to depend on portable water tanks as a means to obtain drinking/cooking water for years,” said White Mountain Apache Tribe District II Councilman Jerold Altaha. "The hydropanels will now enable us to draw water from the air which will provide up to 10 liters of water or about 20 16-ounce bottles a day, at no cost to the family. We are grateful for these opportunities which continue to make a difference in everyday life for our people and community."
"We are proud to be a part of this effort to provide safe, reliable drinking water to the Native American communities in eastern Arizona,” said Stantec Water Business Operating Unit Leader John Take. “Innovative and renewable methods such as the hydropanel technology are playing an increased role in helping solve these complex problems in a sustainable manner."
Hydropanels are a renewable water technology that uses solar energy to provide a safe and consistent supply of drinking water by drawing pure, constantly replenished water vapor out of the sky. The self-contained system converts water molecules in the air into liquid water, which is collected and mineralized in a reservoir inside the panel, creating high-quality drinking water that can be delivered directly to homes, businesses, and community distribution centers.
So far, Resolution Copper has invested nearly $2.8 million through partnerships and donations to projects with Native American Tribes and other communities in the Copper Corridor in 2021. This includes, for instance, partnering with the Northern Arizona University Foundation to support the Indigenous Studies Program and provide 14 scholarships to local students. Resolution Copper also partnered with first responders, community groups, and other agencies to aid communities and Native American Tribes affected by the Telegraph and Mescal wildfires.
