ABQ Times

“They say water is life, and that couldn’t be truer,” Anne Francis remarked, reflecting on the importance of water for sustaining her family's ranch on the Navajo Nation. The region has long faced challenges due to a lack of modern infrastructure, making water access difficult.

A collaboration between Sandia National Laboratories and New Mexico State University has introduced a new technology aimed at addressing these issues. This innovation involves a controller powered by wind or solar energy, eliminating the need for electricity or batteries. Mike Lisk from Remote Well Solutions explained, “We take the water that is being pumped and put it in a storage tank; we then distribute it through the landscape using our controller and a network of piping.”

This system allows for efficient distribution of water across ranches, reducing the need for manual hauling and mitigating overgrazing issues. Former Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer initiated this project in July 2021 by partnering with Remote Well Solutions LLC.

The technology was further developed with support from Sandia and the NMSU Arrowhead Center. “We’re taking what’s available with solar power right now and adding our technology to take it to the next level,” Lisk stated.

Brian Dwyer from Sandia National Laboratories contributed his expertise to validate the system's design. He noted, “Sandia didn’t design this system but checked on what they were doing and validated it to make sure it made sense.” Dwyer also assisted in ensuring water quality standards were met.

The impact of this project is significant. Ranchers like Delbert Shirley have seen improvements thanks to installations supported by entities such as the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program. An economic analysis suggested that this system could double cattle numbers sustained by these ranches.

Francis expressed gratitude for how this development has transformed her operations: “For many years, the Francis ranch could only sustain 45 head of cattle; now they have double the herd.” Her family continues to manage their expanded ranch efficiently with less labor required.

Dwyer highlighted community reactions: “I remember this older guy — he had to be 75 years old. After we installed the system and he saw what it could do, he started crying because he couldn’t believe it.”