Navajo Tribal Utility Authority examines wastewater operations

Goal is to determine if revenues equal true taxes

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. - Rising outside costs have caught up with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), prompting a complete formal review of current water and wastewater operations.

Due to increasing business expenses, NTUA is evaluating how those expenses, growth, and demand are impacting water and wastewater treatment divisions of the utility. The review will include an assessment of equipment, materials, labor, and maintenance.

When reviewing the base rates for utilities, NTUA looks at the general cost of doing business, including operational and maintenance expenses, as well as capital costs.

"We consider this review as our responsibility to make sure our revenue meets the requirement for our utilities," said NTUA Deputy General Manager Rex Kontz, who oversees water, wastewater treatment, natural gas, and utility construction operations. "This time we are focusing on water and wastewater treatment costs to determine if the revenues equal true expenses."

NTUA was established in 1959 by the Navajo Tribal Council as a tribal department - then later, in 1966 - as a self-sustaining, not-for-profit tribal enterprise to provide utility services to the Navajo People. Since then, NTUA has developed into a multi-utility enterprise providing electricity, water, wastewater treatment, natural gas, renewable energy and telecommunications services to residents throughout the Navajo Nation.