GALLUP, N.M. (KRQE) – The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project is supposed to pipe Gallup and Navajo Nation communities clean water for decades to come, but with the United States Bureau of Reclamation hitting a $1.5 billion spending cap, the project is now at risk of a standstill, with more time and money needed to finish it. “We’re looking at roughly a 600 million dollar funding gap, so we need congressional help to finish this project,” said Bert Deming, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
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The project is now estimated at a $2.2 billion cost. New Mexico’s federal lawmakers introduced legislation in February, aimed at lifting the spending cap and extending the project timeline, but Congress hasn’t taken it up yet.”Once we’ve expended the amount of money that has been in the budget for the Bureau of Reclamation, the project comes to a halt. And then we’ll be waiting how many more years to start being funded to continue construction, ” said Gallup City Manager Frank Chiapetti, Gallup City Manager.
The federal bill would also ensure that Gallup doesn’t face the potential of up to $100 million more in costs to finish their part of the project. Those are costs the city said it simply can’t afford. “We’re hoping his bill will go through because that takes care of the money and Gallup’s financial situation all at once,” said Chiapetti.
If funding remains on track, the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project is now expected to open in full by the end of 2029, supplying water across 300 miles of pipeline.
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