Wisconsin Plumber's Expertise Brings Vital Sanitation Solutions to the Navajo Nation

For Sam Woolsey, a licensed plumber and soil tester from UA Local 400 in Wisconsin, plumbing isn't just a trade – it's a way to transform communities. This year's IWSH Award recipient demonstrated this transformation firsthand through his volunteer work addressing critical sanitation needs on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.

Meeting a Critical Need 

In the Baca-Prewitt Chapter of the Navajo reservation, where more than 30% of the residents live without basic plumbing amenities, two essential community buildings were struggling with failing wastewater systems. The Baca Chapter House and Senior Center provide vital community services, including meals, community showers, and gathering areas for cultural activities. 

Their septic systems were failing because the region's unique soil composition posed a significant challenge. Traditional gravity flow septic systems weren't effectively absorbing wastewater, leading to hazardous backups into these crucial community spaces. 

Plumbing Expertise Meets Community Impact 

This is where Sam's specialized plumbing expertise made a crucial difference. As a certified soil tester and septic installer, he conducted detailed soil evaluations at both sites. 

His technical assessment provided the solution: IWSH designed a pressurized mound septic system to replace the failing gravity flow system. Pressurized mound septic systems are a proven technology capable of managing wastewater in challenging environments where conventional systems have failed. 

>> Read our 2024 Navajo Nation project profile here.

"The mounds protect the groundwater, giving better treatment of the wastewater to introduce it back into the earth," Woolsey explains. 

Collaborative Problem-Solving: Plumbers and the Community 

Sam said one of the best things about his IWSH volunteer experience was collaborative problem-solving among the IWSH volunteers and the local residents. “It was amazing to be exposed to a different culture and to learn from other plumbers in the area,” he said.  

“They've never seen soil evaluations done before.  So I was able to share some knowledge with them about evaluating soils and how I look at a site and picture how to make wastewater flow. 

“At the same time, they were giving me some knowledge of what typically happens out in this area.”

Sam with 2024 IAPMO President Steve Panelli (left) and Ed Gormley, IWSH Board of Trustees Chair 

Benefits of Volunteering with IWSH  

When asked what he would say to other plumbers considering volunteering with IWSH, Sam responded immediately: "If the opportunity comes, jump on it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you will not regret it." 

Thank you, Sam!