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DIGDEEP Project Reporting
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Virgil's Water System

Thank you for your generous gift! This report will introduce you to Virgil and the impact you've made in his life.

Welcome to Northwestern New Mexico, just off of Route 66 near the Continental Divide. Virgil Ashley calls this beautiful place home.

Unlike most, Virgil has always struggled to get enough clean water to do basic things like take a bath or cook a meal.

But not any more.

All of that changed when you and DIGDEEP brought him running water for the very first time.

We've prepared this report to show you your impact. Let's get started!

Background + Photos

When we imagine life without clean water, we often think of places like Sub-Saharan Africa - communities that barely resemble our own. But at last count, an estimated 1.7 million Americans still don't have clean, running water or a flush toilet at home.

American families without clean water live lives totally different from yours. They wake up and collect water from a source outside their home, fetching it in buckets and boiling it on the stove. When desperate, many haul water from unsafe sources contaminated with bacteria, arsenic or even uranium.

DIGDEEP is the only global water organization working on projects here in the US. We're starting that work on the Navajo Nation. By focusing on low-tech, high-impact solutions, DIGDEEP is making a big impact in this area.

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Check out these photos from the project and keep reading for more information on the technology we used.

You Are Awesome

You are awesome. You really, really are.

Thanks for sharing your hard-earned resources with a family in need. No American should live without clean, running water. Your generosity proves that we're all in this together!

Spread the word about your impact! Just copy this link to your report and post it on Facebook or Instagram - or post this photo.

COPY AND PASTE ME >> http://www.digdeepreportsb.org/virgil

Meet Virgil

Virgil Ashley has never had running water in his hogan. When he needed hot water to soothe his diabetic feet, Virgil had to drive to Thoreau, buy water at the store, haul it home, and heat it up on the stove before he could get much needed relief. For someone who is self-employed and whose free time is limited, hauling water is too time-consuming.

With his new system donated by you and installed by the DigDeep team, Virgil is excited to have clean dishes, daily hot coffee, and even easy to access water for taking medication. He’s also happy to have extra money for gas and extra time to go hiking and watch his favorite sports—baseball and boxing. He wants you to know how thankful he is for your generosity and for the clean water.

Map + Data

CHAPTER: BACA/PREWITT CHAPTER, NAVAJO NATION

LOCATION: NEW MEXICO

GPS: 35.361536, -108.042152

COMPLETED: SEPTEMBER 2018

TECHNOLOGY: CISTERN AND SOLAR

SOURCE: WATER TRUCK

LOCAL ALLY: ST. BONAVENTURE

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We collect a TON of project data; this is just a snapshot.

Every DIGDEEP project uses a Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) that measures the way water access achieves other key goals like health, gender equity, and access to education.

Every DIGDEEP project is community-led and uses locally-appropriate technology. Benefiting families contribute labor and resources, participate in the installation, and are trained to use and maintain the equipment we install.

The Navajo Water Project

This water system is one small part of the larger Navajo Water Project - a multi-million dollar initiative to bring clean, running water to hundreds of families in Northwest New Mexico.

We're investing in home water systems, solar solutions, water trucking programs and new clean water sources like wells.

Explore the whole Navajo Water project by visiting the website: digdeep.org/navajo

Measuring Change

DIGDEEP believes in real empowerment, measurable impact and radical transparency.

We use 100% of every donation to support to communities in need. The families we serve do their part too, by contributing supplies and labor.

When we work together, we can do amazing things.

The Technology

This project uses cistern and pump technology, a reliable water storage and delivery solution for remote areas. Because this home doesn't have electricity, we power the pump with a solar panel and battery array.

We also installed solar-powered LED lights to light the home at night.

Water is delivered bi-monthly to a 1200 gallon cistern buried two feet underground. By burying the cistern, water is protected from sunlight, contamination and freezing.

Water is then pumped into the home by a direct current pump, through a particulate water filter, propane water heater and into a sink.

Each cistern system is built with the help of the benefitting family, who are taught to maintain and upgrade their system as needed. The Navajo Water Project uses local labor and sources local parts when available.

Give Again

Now that you've seen the incredible impact your gift can have, why not give again?

It costs $14 a month to deliver water to this house. And there are hundreds of families like this one waiting for a water system of their own.

You can sponsor that amount every month, make a new gift to a family in need or even give in someone's name.

We'll use 100% of your gift on another project like this one, and we'll send you another impact report.

Virgil's Water System

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Background + Photos

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You Are Awesome

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Meet Virgil

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Map + Data

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The Navajo Water Project

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Measuring Change

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The Technology

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Give Again

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