Senior leaders from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined Tribal leadership at Santo Domingo Pueblo to announce a $10,735,000 federal investment aimed at expanding reliable sanitation services for the community.
The funding, administered through the Indian Health Service, will support a major wastewater treatment project that includes the construction of four lift stations and force mains to transport wastewater to a new treatment facility currently being built by the Pueblo. The investment is part of a broader effort to complete the community’s wastewater system and strengthen essential infrastructure.
“This investment reflects our shared commitment to ensuring Tribal communities have access to the essential infrastructure that supports health, safety, and long-term prosperity,” Senior Advisor to the Secretary of HHS Mark Cruz said. “Clean water and reliable sanitation systems are foundational to healthy communities, and we are proud to partner with Santo Domingo Pueblo on this important project.”
Senior Advisor to the
Secretary of HHS Mark Cruz
Federal officials emphasized the collaborative nature of the project and its importance to both environmental protection and public health.
“HHS and EPA share a strong partnership and commitment to modernize Santo Domingo Pueblo’s essential drinking water and wastewater infrastructure,” said EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Victoria Tran. “This $10.7 million investment advances the Administration’s priority of protecting human health and the environment in Indian country.”
The announcement follows a recent decision by the Indian Health Service to allocate $700 million in fiscal year 2026 funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to water and sanitation projects across Indian Country.
Despite decades of federal investment, significant infrastructure gaps persist. Approximately 41,000 American Indian and Alaska Native homes still lack adequate sanitation facilities, including more than 4,300 Tribal homes without access to safe water supply and/or waste disposal services. Through the Indian Health Service’s Sanitation Facilities Construction Program and partnerships with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, federal officials say they are working to close those gaps through targeted investments.
Wednesday’s event included remarks from federal and Tribal leaders, a symbolic funding presentation, and recognition of the ongoing partnership between Santo Domingo Pueblo and federal agencies working to improve critical infrastructure and community health.
