Alaska Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in Alaska, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
Barrow Utilities & Elec. Coop., Inc. (Bu has the highest PFAS in Alaska at 46.3 ppt (12x the EPA limit). Uscg Station Kodiak has the highest lead at 39.6 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in Alaska
Public water systems in Alaska with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrow Utilities & Elec. Coop., Inc. (Bu | Barrow · 4,900 served | 46.3 | 5 | 12x |
| 2 | Cordova City Water | Cordova · 2,700 served | 37.1 | 1 | 9x |
| 3 | Moa Municipality Of Anchorage | Anchorage · 221,351 served | 11.2 | 2 | 3x |
| 4 | College Utilities Corporation | Fairbanks · 27,000 served | 10.5 | 3 | 3x |
| 5 | Golden Heart Utilities | Fairbanks · 78,324 served | 8.8 | 2 | 2x |
| 6 | University Of Alaska - Fairbanks | Fairbanks · 6,200 served | 5.7 | 1 | 1x |
| 7 | Ft Wainwright - Main Post | Fairbanks · 20,076 served | 4.3 | 1 | 1x |
| 8 | Wasilla Water System | Wasilla · 18,492 served | 4.2 | 1 | 1x |
Highest Lead Levels in Alaska
Community water systems in Alaska with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uscg Station Kodiak | Kodiak · 3,092 served | 39.6 | 2.6x over |
| 2 | Bethel-City S/D Water | Bethel · 1,660 served | 33.2 | 2.2x over |
| 3 | Sitka | Sitka · 9,448 served | 33 | 2.2x over |
| 4 | Nome Joint Utility System | Nome · 3,920 served | 11.9 | within |
| 5 | Unalaska Water System | Unalaska · 9,400 served | 10.2 | within |
| 6 | Valley Water Company | Fairbanks · 1,575 served | 8.5 | within |
| 7 | Ketchikan Public Utilities | Ketchikan · 8,937 served | 8.1 | within |
| 8 | Ft Wainwright - Main Post | Fairbanks · 20,076 served | 8.1 | within |
| 9 | Anchor Point Safe Water Corporation | Anchor Point · 1,000 served | 7.8 | within |
| 10 | City Of Hooper Bay | Hooper Bay · 1,200 served | 7.7 | within |
| 11 | Kotzebue Mun. Water System | Kotzebue · 3,234 served | 7.5 | within |
| 12 | Talkeetna Water System | Palmer · 1,850 served | 7.4 | within |
Most EPA Violations in Alaska
Community water systems in Alaska with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kotzebue Mun. Water System | Kotzebue · 3,234 served | 73 |
| 2 | Wrangell | Wrangell · 2,300 served | 16 |
| 3 | University Of Alaska - Fairbanks | Fairbanks · 6,200 served | 13 |
| 4 | Craig Public Works | Craig · 1,475 served | 12 |
| 5 | Bethel-City S/D Water | Bethel · 1,660 served | 11 |
| 6 | Uscg Station Kodiak | Kodiak · 3,092 served | 9 |
| 7 | Ketchikan Public Utilities | Ketchikan · 8,937 served | 8 |
| 8 | Haines Borough | Haines · 2,376 served | 6 |
| 9 | Valley Water Company | Fairbanks · 1,575 served | 5 |
| 10 | Skagway | Skagway · 10,947 served | 5 |
| 11 | Sitka | Sitka · 9,448 served | 5 |
| 12 | City Of Hooper Bay | Hooper Bay · 1,200 served | 4 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in Alaska?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), Barrow Utilities & Elec. Coop., Inc. (Bu in Barrow had the highest recorded PFAS level in Alaska at 46.3 ppt - about 12x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which Alaska water system has the highest lead levels?
Uscg Station Kodiak in Kodiak had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in Alaska under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 39.6 ppb - 2.6x the 15 ppb action level.
Which Alaska water system has the most EPA violations?
Kotzebue Mun. Water System in Kotzebue has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in Alaska, with 73 violations.
Where does the Alaska water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What Alaska Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full Alaska water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.