A New Mexico state senator is urging authorities to stop charging customers for water near the Navajo Nation.

He says many Navajos live in homes without full indoor plumbing for drinking water and rely on municipal water filling stations because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Democratic Senator George Muñoz of Gallup said waiving fees at the water loading station would help ease economic hardships and ensure more people can wash hands to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

He said handling cash and change at the coin operated station increases transmission risks.