Monitoring Water Quality in Navajo Nation Using Paper-Based Electrochemical Sensors

The NSF-Prem research collaborative effort between Navajo Technical University and Harvard University aims to address the critical issue of water contamination within the Navajo Nation. Through decades of uranium mining and mineral extraction has left a lasting mark on the Navajo land and groundwater resources, necessitating effective solutions. The Nana Electrochemical Analysis and Energy Storage Laboratory (NEST LAB) at NTU has developed flexible paper-based integrated with advance electrochemical techniques to detect heavy metal concentrations in water samples. These sensors are printed out of a wax printer on chromatography paper, and we manually coat eighteen sensors per sheet with carbon conductive paste to offer a cost-effective, easy to fabricate, and highly reliable, offering real-time monitoring capabilities. The project is new, and the core goal is to expedite water quality analysis and empower the Navajo community to detect potential contamination promptly. We have not yet distributed these sensors to the community to acquire hard data, but we are expecting in the future to distribute them to local chapter houses, so that residents can independently assess groundwater quality, foster a sense of ownership and proactive environmental stewardship. This partnership exemplifies the power of community-driven solutions and trains Navajo students to get involved in scientific innovations to safeguard the environment for future generations in the Navajo Nation. Fund Support: NSF-PREM DMR-2122195 USDA-NIFA-2024-38424-41474