3,400 Arizonans will get safe drinking water through Local First Arizona and SOURCE Global
More than 3,400 people in remote Arizona communities will receive access to safe, clean drinking water in their homes for the first time as Local First Arizona joins forces with SOURCE Global.
The Arizona-based company’s cutting-edge Hydropanels have been installed in more than 50 countries, including at more than 500 homes on the Navajo Nation, saving tribal families as much as $840 per year by reducing or eliminating the need to purchase bottled water or truck it in.
Now 800 additional homes across Arizona will be equipped with the off-grid, renewable systems at no cost to homeowners, thanks to a $7.5 million state grant and assistance from Local First.
The initiative is designed to assist a wide range of communities throughout the state, including tribal communities, colonia residents in southern Arizona and rural communities outside of the state’s six Active Management Areas.
How the technology works
Hydropanels use solar energy to power fans that draw in air and push it through water-absorbing material. This process passively turns water vapor into drinking water that’s mineralized for health and taste and kept clean in a storage tank until it’s needed.
The systems are placed on a sunny patch of ground next to the home. Water can be tapped straight from the outdoor panels or from a faucet inside the home. No electricity or hard pipes are required.
A critical need for safe drinking water
Sobering statistics illustrate the need for the Arizona Drinking Water Program.
Nearly half of all tribal homes lack access to reliable water sources, clean drinking water or basic sanitation, according to a study by the Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy.
In Yuma County, an estimated 30% of colonia residents didn’t have access to safe, clean drinking water, according to the Rural Community Assistance Partnership.
The Arizona Drinking Water Program also will create jobs.
Members of the communities will have the opportunity to become certified SOURCE Hydropanel installers.
Water is a human right
“Local First Arizona and SOURCE share the belief that access to safe, clean drinking water is a fundamental human right,” Local First Arizona Director of Rural Development Jenna Rowell said. “Our goal with this program is to make a meaningful difference for thousands of Arizonans.”
The assistance from Local First represents an opportunity to improve the situation, SOURCE Global Vice President of Business Development Colin Goddard said.
“Nothing is more exciting to me than getting our technology in the hands of people who need it the most,” Goddard said. “Our partnership with Local First Arizona is an ideal use case. It’s about helping as many people as possible.”
Hydropanel installation is expected to begin in Summer 2023.
To apply for a free SOURCE Hydropanel for your home, visit, www.source.co/azwp.
