Arizona Water Company production foreman Jim Padilla speaks about the capacity of the water main that transports water from desert well sites 26 miles east to the town of Superior. Resolution Copper, Stantec sponsor hydropanels for Fort Apache Reservation. A small white patch on the pipes just to the right of the valve shows where the water main was shot for target practice, which is against the law. /Aaron Dorman/PinalCentral
By Aaron Dorman | PinalCentral
SUPERIOR — Water is a scarce resource in Arizona, but the White Mountain Apache community will soon be able to make use of new technology to pull it from the air.
In partnership with Resolution Copper and Stantec, the community will be installing 64 hydropanels on the Fort Apache Reservation, northeast of the Tonto National Forest.
Once installed, the hydropanels are expected to provide up to 10 liters of water at no cost to users. The panels use solar energy to draw water vapor out of the atmosphere. The water is collected and mineralized inside the panel.
“Water is valuable, it’s the life force of humanity,” said White Mountain Apache Tribe District II Councilman Jerold Altaha. “We are grateful for these opportunities which will continue to make a difference in everyday life for our people and community.”
According to Altaha, the Carrizo community has had issues with high levels of manganese in water wells, making them more dependent on potable water tanks.
