| SHELBY KINLICHEE (Navajo/Diné), Data Coordinator for DigDeep Labs &

| LETICIA MARQUES, Data Coordinator for DigDeep Labs &

| SUSAN LAMB, Data and Strategy Manager, DigDeep Labs &

| ANNIE FEIGHERY, Cofounder and CEO of mWater &

| JOHN FEIGHERY, Cofounder and CEO of mWater

In the United States, over two million individuals live in households deprived of access to running water (DigDeep, Closing the Water Acces Gap in the United States, 2019). This reality is more pronounced as Navajo people are 67 times more likely to live without access to running water or even a toilet than other Americans. These alarming statistics underscore the indispensable role of data and understanding WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) access across the country. In response, DigDeep, a human rights organization focused on closing the WASH access gap in the U.S., embarked on a collaborative Navajo-led initiative called the Navajo Water Project.

DigDeep’s Navajo Water Project leverages the capabilities of mWater, a data management system, to bolster its WASH data collection processes. mWater facilitates critical data collection, storage, visualization, and reporting across the globe. This data infrastructure empowers both DigDeep’s Navajo Water Project and the Navajo Nation Chapters to formulate targeted strategies, allocate resources effectively, and advocate for policy changes, thereby fostering sustainable solutions to water access challenges.

Integral to this endeavor is a shared commitment to data stewardship, with mWater and DigDeep staunchly affirming that all data collected rightfully belongs to the communities they have the privilege to serve. Collaboration is possible between technology entities, non-profit organizations, and Tribal communities, to champion data-driven approaches that are not only instrumental in addressing the pressing issue of water access disparities, but also serve as a model for innovative, community-centric solutions in the field of public health and social justice.