FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PIIPAASH NATION VOTES TO DENY PIMA-MARICOPA IRRIGATION PROJECT PIPELINE AND BAN TREATED WATER / EFFLUENT / SEWER / WASTE WATER FROM TRADITIONAL PII PAASH TERRITORY
3/30/16
–Piipaash Uumish of Maricopa Colony, AZ
On Thursday, March 24, 2016 the Piipaash District 7 Community held a special meeting in accordance with the Gila River Tribal Council's request to have P-MIP (Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project) present on the proposed Westside Laterals (Pipelines). District 7 Community members used the opportunity to vote in opposition to the Westside Laterals (P-MIP pipelines) and the Reclaimed/Effluent/ blended (sewer) water.
The project proposes to trade treated sewer/effluent water from Chandler and Mesa municipalities for our Central Arizona Project water at a 5:4 ratio. It then intends to pipe the "reclaimed" water back into our Community (mixing some with more CAP water creating "blended" water) and apply it on tribal and allotted lands for agricultural and other purposes.
The Piipaash Community, as of September 19, 2015, voted to keep the Westside pipelines and all reclaimed/effluent/ blended water from entering into our territory citing serious health risks including pathogens and other pharmaceutical contaminants often found in reclaimed/effluent water.
At the March 24th meeting , the community decided and voted to submit the District 7 Community's Resolution as an original Resolution re-stating the Community's decision to reject the Westside pipelines and all reclaimed/effluent water from the District 7 lands.
The Piipaash citizens are concerned about the affects of the reclaimed water on the environment, specifically the foods, wildlife and vegetation, cultural and spiritual sites, and the overall impact of the reclaimed sewer water on our underground waters and natural recharge.
We are requesting the Tribal Council and all concerned committees and departments within the Gila River Indian Community, (Legislative Standing Committee, Natural Resources Standing Committee, Governor, Lt. Governor, Department of Environmental Quality, Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project, Akin Gump et al) and all entities involving Water on or off our traditional territories, to acknowledge the Piipaash Indigenous Nation's resolution to keep Reclaimed/Effluent water off our lands and out of our waters.
We request everyone to urge the Gila River Indian Community's Tribal Council to reconsider their use of Reclaimed/Effluent Sewer water for farming and agricultural use; and to support this community's movement for safe, clean, drinkable water.
Sincerely,
Piipaash Indigenous Nation
for more information conatact Owe Aku International Justice Project
oweakuinternational@me.com or 720-469-1178
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