Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Anchorage?
Yes, Anchorage's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Anchorage has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Anchorage's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Anchorage's water utility, Municipality of Moa Anchorage, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Anchorage was resolved on March 31, 2018. This assessment is based on the Municipality of Moa Anchorage water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Anchorage Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Anchorage tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Anchorage's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Anchorage Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Municipality of Moa Anchorage for Anchorage in Alaska. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Jan. 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, Anchorage had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: CARBON, TOTAL.
From Nov. 1, 2017 to Jan. 31, 2018, Anchorage had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
From Jan. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016, Anchorage had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Regular which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Inorganic Chemicals rule code family for the following contaminant code: Nitrate.
Is there Lead in Anchorage Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Anchorage water system, Municipality of Moa Anchorage, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.00156 mg/L of lead in Anchorage water. This is 10.4% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Anchorage contained more lead.
While Anchorage water testing may have found 0.00156 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Anchorage Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Elmendorf Air Force Base - near Anchorage with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Anchorage has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Anchorage SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
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01/01/2018 - 03/31/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) | CARBON, TOTAL (2920) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) |
11/01/2017 - 01/31/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
11/01/2017 - 01/31/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
01/01/2016 - 12/31/2016 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Nitrates (331) | Nitrate (1040) | Chemicals (300) | Inorganic Chemicals (330) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
Field | Description |
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Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
Status |
Current status of the violation.
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Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
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Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
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Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
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Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
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For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Anchorage Water - Frequently Asked Questions
By Phone: | 907-550-5904 |
By Email: | timothy.forbus@awwu.biz |
By Mail: | 3000 Arctic Blvd ANCHORAGE, AK, 99503 |
Existing customers can login to their Municipality of Moa Anchorage account to pay their Anchorage water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Municipality of Moa Anchorage bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Anchorage water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Anchorage water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Anchorage means you will often need to put the water in your name with Municipality of Moa Anchorage. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Anchorage means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Municipality of Moa Anchorage. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$2.48 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Anchorage, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Anchorage Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Anchorage's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
ANCHORAGE 2020 DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility employs more than 280 professionals whose core purpose is to safeguard the health and welfare of the public and the environment. Whether for wildfire defense during hot, dry summers or shielding against
We deliver over 8 billion gallons of water from Eklutna Lake and other pristine sources through the course of the year. We collect and treat nearly 30 million gallons of sewage each day to protect public health and maintain habitat for fish and aquatic wildlife.
We tend to the Utility’s infrastructure: 1,600 miles of buried water and sewer pipelines, as well as many valves, pump stations, reservoirs, well houses, and treatment facilities. Under all conditions, from
earthquakes |
through blizzards, |
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we perform |
emergency |
repairs |
when necessary, with |
an |
operations staff at the ready 24
hours every day, so that water is available for your use and convenience, at the quality and quantity you need. Cool, refreshing, safe, and reliable, there is clearly no better bargain than tap water provided by Anchorage Water
- Wastewater Utility, where we are investing to ensure reliable service, safeguard public health, and protect the environment, long into the future!
- Mark Corsentino, P.E., General Manager, Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility Complies With All Drinking Water Regulations
There were no violations of any Maximum Contaminant Levels or Treatment Techniques during the last required sampling period for all regulated and unregulated contaminants. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation issued violations for failure to monitor for some contaminants. Subsequent monitoring has demonstrated compliance with all regulations.
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility water samples are collected routinely from source waters, individual homes, and points throughout the distribution system to ensure quality. Certified laboratories verify the water always meets required federal and Alaska standards.
In 2020 …..
Average daily customer water demand was 22.8 million gallons of water from Eklutna, Ship Creek and Anchorage wells.
AWWU Produced 8.34 billion gallons of water served to AWWU customers
Eklutna Lake provided 93 percent of the drinking water for Anchorage and Eagle River.
Ship Creek provided 5.9 percent of the drinking water for AWWU customers in Anchorage and Eagle River.
Anchorage wells provided 1.1 percent of drinking water to AWWU customers.
AWWU Maintains …..
a
AWWU Operates …..
and maintains 845 miles of water distribution and transmission mains in Anchorage, Eagle River, and Girdwood.
About This Report -
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility is pleased to present you with its annual Drinking Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report. This 2021 report is about 2020 water quality.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) require all water agencies to produce for its customers an annual report about the previous year’s drinking water quality.
AWWU’s annual Drinking Water Quality Report details where your water comes from, and what it contains. The Utility’s commitment to water quality excellence results in the production of drinking water that meets and/or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards for 2019. Your Utility safeguards your public water supplies, and is pleased to report AWWU has never violated a maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard.
AWWU ensures safe and reliable drinking water with use of efficient and
For more information about your water, contact AWWU’s Water Quality Section at (907)
To receive a written report by mail, request one by phone at (907)
Anchorage Drinking Water Sources
Eklutna Lake
Anchorage’s predominant water source is 875 feet above sea level and sits in a Chugach Mountain Range valley.
Eklutna Lake rests below glacial surrounded mountain peaks, within Alaska’s Chugach State Park, part of a 119 square mile watershed. With 16 miles of shoreline, 7 miles in length, and 1.1 miles wide, the lake is 4.94 square miles in size and holds 366,048
Ship Creek Watershed
The creek’s headwaters descend from Ship Lake at 2,700 feet and drain 117 square miles. The creek's upper 15 miles - the secondary source water for Anchorage's water - are within and protected from development by Chugach State Park.
Anchorage Well Water
AWWU operates 10 active wells in Anchorage. These draw water from several naturally filtered aquifers and provide additional drinking water in times of increased demand.
AWWU is committed to delivering the highest quality water through source water protection, excellent operations,
Eklutna Water Treatment Facility
Water Treatment
2020 and earlier, verifying the Municipality of Anchorage's drinking water exceeds all state and
Anchorage, Eagle River and northern communities in the Municipality receive drinking water primarily from the Eklutna Water Treatment Facility, which can be supplemented with water from the Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility and blended with high quality groundwater from several wells.
The treatment process, continuously monitored by AWWU water treatment operators, ensures your drinking water is disinfected. Naturally filtered well water requires less treatment and is also disinfected prior to distribution.
Both the Eklutna and Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility perform conventional surface water treatment. This reduces turbidity, removes contaminants and reduces the risk of pathogenic contamination. This is a
Step 1
Eklutna Lake and Ship Creek raw water enters the treatment plant. A coagulant is added to the water to cause dirt and floating particles in the water to bind together. This is called floc.
Step 2
The water and floc enter sedimentation basins where the floc is separated from the water, sinks to the bottom and is removed. The water, much clearer now, flows into the next treatment stage, filtration.
Step 3
The water is filtered through several layers of anthracite coal, sand, and gravel to remove any remaining impurities prior to final disinfection.
Step 4
Before water is distributed to AWWU customers, chlorine is added to disinfect microorganisms and protect against bacterial regrowth, and fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay.
Important Health Information
Data presented in this report is from the most recent testing done in accordance with regulations and presented as required by the US Environmental Protection Agency Consumer Confidence Report Rule (40 CFR 141.153 and 141.154). Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old. The State of Alaska requires AWWU to monitor for certain contaminants less than once a year because the typically low concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year.
The range includes all Anchorage source waters.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Due to Anchorage’s pristine environment and purity of its water sources, AWWU treats water at a lower cost and produces the highest quality drinking water. Many substances are substantially lower or virtually nonexistent in our drinking water than elsewhere. While over 80 substances are routinely tested, only those detected are listed in the following tables.
Drinking Water Table Definitions
Contaminant - Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in the water.
MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level - The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set by EPA as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
MCLG - Maximum Contaminant Level Goal - The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level - The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is required for control of microbial contaminants.
MRDLG - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal - The level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
- - Treatment Technique - A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
AL - Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
ppb = 1 part per billion = 1microgram/Liter (µg/L) N/A = Not Applicable
ND = Not Detected
NP = Naturally present in the environment C = Corrosion of household plumbing
DP = Discharge from petroleum refineries, fire retardants, ceramics, electronics, solder
- = Erosion of natural deposits FS = Fire Retardants, Solder MDL = Method Detection Limit MRL = Method Reporting Limit
ppm = 1 part per million = 1milligram/Liter (mg/L) / 1 ppm = 1,000 ppb NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Unit - a measure of water clarity
BPC =
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= Run off from fertilizer use SL = Septic leaching
SR = Soil runoff
SMCL = Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level WA = Water additive promotes strong teeth WM = Water additive to control microbes
Anchorage Public Drinking Water System – Water Quality Data for 2020
The tables below list all 2020 detected drinking water contaminants and information about their typical sources. In accord with regulatory guidance, contaminants below detection limits for reporting are not shown, with the exception of Total Coliform Bacteria where no detections were observed.
PRIMARY STANDARDS (MANDATORY HEALTH RELATED STANDARDS)
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Barium |
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ppb |
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2000 |
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2000 |
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3.3 – 99 |
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99 |
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Erosion of natural deposits |
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Chromium (total) |
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ppb |
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100 |
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100 |
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ND – 2.0 |
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2.0 |
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Erosion of natural deposits |
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Fluoride |
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ppm |
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4.0 |
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4.0 |
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0.00 – 0.79 |
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0.79* |
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Water additive that promotes strong teeth |
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Nitrate |
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ppm |
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10 |
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10 |
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ND – 1.04 |
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1.04 |
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Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from |
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- Average is calculated based on quarterly averages
Inorganic Analytes:
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) are developed for the purpose of protecting the public from possible health risks associated with long term exposure to contaminants. In general, no health hazard is reasonably expected to occur when levels are below a primary MCL.
Anchorage Municipal Code 26.40.050 directs AWWU to add fluoride to Anchorage drinking water. Fluoride is added at a level that does not exceed the nationally recognized recommendation of 0.7 mg/L., and concentrations in finished drinking water are monitored daily to ensure meeting treatment objectives.
Barium is the 14th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. The most likely source in Anchorage drinking water is the erosion of natural deposits during water’s journey through the Eklutna Lake watershed. The
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MICROBIOLOGICAL |
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UNITS |
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MCL |
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MCLG |
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AVERAGE |
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Total Coliform Bacteria |
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<5% positive |
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Total Coliform Bacteria:
Coliforms are bacteria naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful bacteria may be present. ADEC regulations require AWWU to test a minimum of five samples per week from throughout the distribution system for total coliform and E. coli, and to report the results, including the percentage of total Coliform positive samples in a given month. To meet this requirement, in 2018 AWWU collected and analyzed over 2000 samples from the distribution system for total coliform and E. coli. The MCL is 5.0%; this means that if more than 5% of the monthly
samples collected are total coliform positive, then the MCL is violated. In 2020 AWWU detected no total coliform bacteria.
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TURBIDITY |
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Turbidity |
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NTU |
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TT = 1NTU |
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Found = 0.167 |
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Found = 0.074 |
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samples ≤0.3 |
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samples ≤ 0.3 |
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Turbidity:
Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor it because it's a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. Both the Eklutna and Ship Creek treatment plants monitor for turbidity every 15 minutes to ensure uniform quality of the water produced for AWWU customers. Our consistently very low turbidity results attest to the high quality of drinking water AWWU produces.
2020 – Anchorage Public Drinking Water System Detected Results #AK2210906
CONTINUED: PRIMARY STANDARDS (MANDATORY HEALTH RELATED STANDARDS)
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MICROBIOLOGICAL |
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UNITS |
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MCL |
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MCLG |
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EKLUTNA |
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SHIP CREEK |
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Average |
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Range |
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Average |
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Cryptosporidia (2016) |
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oocysts/L |
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(0) |
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ND |
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ND |
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ND – 0.14 |
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0.058 |
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Naturally present in the environment |
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Giardia lamblia (2016) |
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cysts/L |
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TT |
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(0) |
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ND |
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ND |
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ND – 4.14 |
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1.1 |
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Naturally present in the environment |
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Cryptosporidia and Giardia:
Cryptosporidia and Giardia are protozoan parasites that exist in surface water. These parasites can cause intestinal illnesses when the cysts discharged from mainly aquatic vertebrate hosts enter the aquatic environment and are subsequently ingested by humans. Not all species of these organisms are infectious. Beginning in 1989 with establishment of the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), and continuing with additional regulation extending the scope and specificity of monitoring and treatment of surface water, these pathogens have been subject to increased annual sampling and reporting. Potential occurrence of and exposure to these pathogens is limited by the protected nature of Anchorage surface waters, the lack of perceptible turbidity in water provided to customers, and the conventional filtration and disinfection utilized by AWWU. AWWU's treatment approach is recognized by EPA in inactivating and/or removing 99.99% of Giardia lamblia and 99% of Cryptosporidium. The results of raw water sampling in 2016 continued to demonstrate the high quality of Anchorage raw source water, with an average of less than one organism detected in the city's supplemental supply source and no organisms detected from Eklutna Lake, which provided 86% of total water served in 2016.
As of November 12, 2008 following sampling for Phase 1 of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR)(40 CFR 141.700 - 141.722), the Anchorage water supply was classified as Bin 1, or lowest potential health risk. Per regulation, AWWU collected a monthly sample for 2 years, and the average of combined individual samples from that time period was used to put the Utility in the lowest of four possible risk categories. Bin 1 means < 0.075 oocysts/L were observed. The practical result of this was that as a conventional filtration system, AWWU hasn't been required to employ additional treatment. In January 2015, AWWU was required to submit a sampling schedule for Phase 2 of LT2ESWTR. This is sampling that began at Ship Creek and Eklutna in April 2015 and ended March 2017. No new sampling has been required since then. The draft version of the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL; see detail in Unregulated Contaminants subsection) will be published December 2020 and Cryptosporidia and Giardia are candidates for listing.
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LEAD AND |
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UNITS |
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ACTION |
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MCLG |
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90TH PERCENTILE |
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SAMPLING |
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SAMPLES |
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MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING |
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HOW DID |
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COPPER (2018) |
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LEVEL |
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CONCENTRATION |
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SITES |
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EXCEEDING AL |
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WATER |
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WE DO? |
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Lead |
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ppb |
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15 |
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0 |
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< 1.0 |
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45 |
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0 |
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Internal corrosion of household |
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plumbing |
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Copper |
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ppb |
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1300 |
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1300 |
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63 |
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45 |
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0 |
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Internal corrosion of household |
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plumbing |
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Lead and Copper:
Lead and copper enters drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. Exposure to lead and copper may cause health problems ranging from stomach distress to nervous system damage. In 1991, the EPA published the Lead and Copper Rule to control lead and copper in drinking water. The rule requires AWWU to monitor drinking water at customer taps. If lead concentrations exceed an action level of 15 ppb or copper concentrations exceed 1.3 ppm in more than 10% of taps sampled, AWWU is required to undertake a number of additional actions to inform the public and control corrosion.
In 2018, 45 customers provided samples from their taps to AWWU for lead and copper analysis. The results of these tests are presented above. Because none of our results were above the Action Levels, no additional actions were required. Lead and Copper Rule monitoring must be conducted every three years. The next study will be conducted in 2021.
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. AWWU is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in private plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
2020 – Anchorage Public Drinking Water System Detected Results #AK2210906
DETECTED DISINFECTION
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UNITS |
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MCL OR |
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MCLG OR |
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RANGE |
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AVERAGE |
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MAJOR SOURCES IN |
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HOW DID |
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MRDL |
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MRDLG |
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DRINKING WATER |
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WE DO? |
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Total Organic Carbon |
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ppm |
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TT |
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N/A |
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ND – 0.88 |
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RAA = 0.56 |
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Various natural and man- |
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made sources |
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Disinfectant Residual (as Cl2) |
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ppm |
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4A |
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4 |
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0.18 – 1.96 |
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Distribution system |
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Drinking water disinfectant |
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average = 0.92 |
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added for treatment |
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Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
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ppb |
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60B |
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N/A |
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0 – 10.3 |
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Maximum LRAA = 5.85 |
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Byproduct of drinking water |
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disinfection |
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Total Trihalomethanes |
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ppb |
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80B |
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N/A |
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0 – 19.5 |
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Maximum LRAA = 10.6 |
0 |
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Byproduct of drinking water |
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(TTHMs) |
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disinfection |
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A Compliance is determined by the distribution system average.
B Total Trihalomethane, HAA5 compliance is based on quarterly Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA)
All drinking water must be disinfected during treatment to ensure potentially dangerous microbes in raw source water are killed. Once water leaves the treatment plant, in order to prevent microbial regrowth within the distribution system, a disinfectant residual must be maintained. During treatment, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is added to water so that at the farthest reaches of AWWU's distribution system, a residual level of chlorine can be detected (typically between 0.1 and 0.5 ppm) in treated, finished water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend treated water be within the range of 0.5 - 2 ppm to balance disinfection effectiveness and reasonable taste. In 2019, we analyzed over 2000 weekly samples for chlorine residual; the average was 0.92 ppm and the maximum was 1.92 ppm.
All disinfectants can result in some sort of byproduct by combining with other trace constituents in treated water. In addition to monitoring for disinfectant residual, as required under SDWA, AWWU also must monitor for and report byproducts to both the State of Alaska (DEC) and federal EPA. These byproducts are Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAAs). In 2012, AWWU began monitoring these under the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproduct (DBP) Rule. Compliance with the MCL under this rule is based on the running annual average at each location in the distribution system. The MCL for TTHMs is 80 ppb, and HAAs is 60 ppb. AWWU has had no violations of the Stage 2 DBP MCLs to date. In 2019 our highest LRAA for TTHMs was 11.0, and the range of individual measurements was 1.8 to 14.6 ppb. For HAAs, our highest LRAA was 5.1, and the range of individual measurements was 1.0 to 6.7 ppb.
DETECTED UNREGULATED PARAMETERS REQUIRING MONITORING
|
ANALYTE |
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UNITS |
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MRL |
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RANGE |
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AVERAGE |
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MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING WATER |
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HOW DID |
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WE DO? |
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Chlorate (2016) |
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ppb |
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20 |
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46.5 |
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Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
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Chromium (2015) |
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ppb |
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0.2 |
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ND- 1.4 |
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0.6 |
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Erosion of natural deposits |
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Hexavalent Chromium (2016) |
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ppb |
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0.03 |
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ND – 0.81 |
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0.32 |
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Naturally occurring metal |
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Molybdenum (2015) |
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ppb |
|
|
1.0 |
|
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ND – 2.0 |
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0.9 |
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Naturally occurring element; in ores and plants |
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Strontium (2015) |
|
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ppb |
|
|
0.30 |
|
|
100 - 380 |
|
|
226 |
|
|
Naturally occurring element |
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Vanadium (2015) |
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ppb |
|
|
0.2 |
|
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ND – 1.0 |
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0.5 |
|
|
Naturally occurring metal; used as a catalyst |
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2019 |
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UNITS |
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MDL |
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|
RANGE |
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AVERAGE |
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|
MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING WATER |
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|
HOW DID |
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WE DO? |
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Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) |
|
|
ppb |
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
1.79 – 6.0 |
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|
4.2 |
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|
By product of drinking water disinfection |
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Manganese |
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ppb |
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|
2.00 |
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ND – 135 |
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|
9.97 |
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Naturally occurring metal |
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Since 1996, EPA has been required to issue a list of no more than 30 unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water supply systems (PWSs). Once every five years, EPA issues a new list, as required under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Monitoring provides the basis for future regulatory
2020 – Anchorage Public Drinking Water System Detected Results #AK2210906
actions to protect public health. The Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) program was developed in coordination with the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). The CCL is a list of contaminants not yet regulated by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR), are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may warrant regulation under the SDWA.
Under the UCMR3 cycle, constituents were studied at levels often significantly below those in prior UCMR cycles. UCMR3 minimum reporting levels (MRLs) were established based on analytical capacity, not on a level established as “significant” or “harmful”. So the detection of a UCMR3 analyte above the MRL doesn’t represent cause for concern, in and of itself.
Of the 28 unregulated contaminants sampling during 2015, only the six listed were detected. Of these, five are trace metals (Hexavalent Chromium, or
In 2016, four locations were resampled for some select analytes. In 2018, the next cycle of UCMR began (UCMR4) and continued in 2019 with the results listed.
MAJOR IONS AND OTHER PARAMETERS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
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UNITS |
|
MCL |
|
MDL |
|
RANGE FOR ALL |
|
EKLUTNA |
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MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING WATER |
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HOW DID |
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SOURCES |
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WE DO? |
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Calcium |
|
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ppm |
|
none |
|
0.10 |
|
27 - 37 |
|
27 |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
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|
|
Magnesium |
|
|
ppm |
|
none |
|
0.01 |
|
4.2 - 10 |
|
4.4 |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
Sodium |
|
|
ppm |
|
none |
|
0.25 |
|
4.1 – 10 |
|
5.5 |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
Total Hardness |
|
|
ppm |
|
none |
|
1.0 |
|
84.7 - 134 |
|
85.5 |
|
Dissolved Calcium and Magnesium |
|
|
|
|
Alkalinity (as CaCO3) |
|
|
ppm |
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none |
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1.6 |
|
47.6 - 126 |
|
51.4 |
|
Erosion of carbonate deposits, dissolved CO2 |
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pH |
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none |
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|
6.04 – 7.78 |
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7.78 |
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Erosion of natural deposits, precipitation |
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||
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Major ions are those elements with important biological functions, ecological roles and/or contribute significantly to the salinity of water. Major cations include Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+ while major anions may include
DETECTED CCR PARAMETERS WITH SECONDARY MCLs
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UNITS |
|
SMCL |
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|
MDL |
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RANGE FOR |
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EKLUTNA |
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MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING WATER |
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|
HOW DID |
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ALL SOURCES |
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WE DO? |
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Aluminum |
|
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ppm |
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0.002 |
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<MDL – 92 |
|
0.092 |
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Erosion of natural deposits; residue from some surface |
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water treatment processes |
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Chloride |
|
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ppm |
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250 |
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0.03 |
|
3.6 - 11 |
|
3.6 |
|
Erosion of natural deposits; seawater aerosol |
|
|
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Iron |
|
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ppb |
|
300 |
|
|
20 |
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<MDL – 200 |
|
<MDL |
|
Erosion of natural deposits; corrosion of iron pipes |
|
|
|
|
|
Sulfate |
|
|
ppm |
|
250 |
|
|
0.03 |
|
8.7 - 48 |
|
39 |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Dissolved Solids |
|
|
ppm |
|
500 |
|
|
25 |
|
115 - 170 |
|
116 |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
Zinc |
|
|
ppb |
|
5000 |
|
|
5.0 |
|
<MDL – 5.1 |
|
<MDL |
|
Deterioration of galvanized iron dezincification of brass |
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Secondary standards (Secondary MCLs) are recommendations for maintaining the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water. If present at or above the secondary MCL, these parameters may cause the water to appear cloudy or colored, or to have a noticeable taste or smell. These parameters are not considered to present a risk to human health at or above the Secondary MCL.
Additional Information
Substances That Could Be in Water
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds,
reservoirs, springs, and groundwater.
As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the USEPA and the State Board prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water
p r o v i d e d by public water systems. The State of Alaska regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.
Arsenic
While your drinking water meets EPA’s standard for arsenic, it may contain low levels of arsenic. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
Contaminants That May Be Present in Source Water Include:
Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or can result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming;
Pesticides and Herbicides that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses;
Organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are
Radioactive Contaminants that can be naturally occurring or can be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Supporting the public health, safety and economic interests of the community by providing quality water and
wastewater services in a responsible, efficient, and sustainable manner.
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility Clearly
AWWU encourages your participation in local voluntary source water protection efforts. Your activities and the natural environment may contribute contaminants and increase the susceptibility of a water supply.
Water supplies are vulnerable to the following: bacteria, viruses, volatile organic compounds, nitrates, nitrites, heavy metals, cyanide, inorganic and synthetic organic compounds. The potential sources are identified as: recreation, wildlife, campgrounds, agriculture, business, industry, transportation, storage tanks and resource extraction.
Anchorage’s water supply vulnerability is rated medium to low for the Eklutna Lake watershed, Ship Creek watershed and Anchorage wells. The Eklutna Lake watershed and Well #1 at Denali St. have an increased vulnerability to some contaminants.
In 2001 and 2002 the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation prepared source water assessments to identify potential contaminants. These reports are available through the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Drinking Water Program, (907)
To comment, request more information or if you have any water quality questions, contact the Utility’s Water Quality Section at (907)
Contact the Utility at
Community participation to enhance water quality is welcome at AWWU Board meetings.
For location and dates, call
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility
3000 Arctic Blvd.
Anchorage, AK
Contaminants
Municipality of Anchorage
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 221351
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 26
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Arsenic
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
Other Detected Contaminants
- Aluminum
- Barium
- Chlorate
- Chromium (total)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Manganese
- Mercury (inorganic)
- Molybdenum
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Silver
- Strontium
- Toluene
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
Anchorage Tap Water
Have you ever gone to your refrigerator and wondered how come you can’t buy a bottle of Anchorage tap water? It’s true, the city of Anchorage, Alaska actually allows you to fill up your own bottles of water. Why would that be? Well, the reason is quite straightforward really. The city of Anchorage, Alaska buys all of its water from a major water bottling company, and all the other cities and towns in the state are too far away for the water to travel in. That means when the bottle of Anchorage tap water gets home, it’s immediately sent out by truck or plane to the city.
That’s all fine and dandy if you live in a place where the water never freezes over. However, in Anchorage, Alaska, the weather is notorious for cold temperatures for more than six months out of the year. That means that the majority of the time you won’t have access to any bottled water in your home. That’s okay though because there are other places in Alaska where you can get water. In fact, the majority of the resorts in the Alaskan state have full-service bars that offer free refills on their bottled water. Once again, that’s if you live anywhere else in Alaska.
So, it seems like we have made a pretty clear case. Do yourself a favor and order your own bottle of Anchorage water instead of wasting money on bottled water that doesn’t work in your refrigerator. If you do end up with some of that free water though, don’t waste it. Instead, drink it right away. It’ll make a world of difference!
Anchorage Drinking Water
Alaska’s Anchorage drinking water supply is probably better than almost anywhere in the nation. The city’s water comes from Lake Creek, which is a source of the North Channel. This is one of the largest rivers flowing in the state and is separated into two branches: the Kenai and the Kvichak basins. Each has its own water intake according to their maps, with the Kenai at the lower end of the river. Lake Creek itself supplies the vast majority of the Anchorage population and all of its water distribution.
Bottled water, as it is known here, came about a few years ago when Anchorage resident Bob Ward was tired of using tap water and decided he’d give the city a try. He bought a few cases of his own brand and started distributing them throughout the city. Within a short time, people were buying his product en masse. Since then, more stores have installed walk-in bottles of their own brand, allowing residents to enjoy their own glass of drinking water without paying a penny.
Anchorage is lucky to have such a phenomenal supply of clean drinking water, which means that people everywhere are taking advantage of it. It is a fact that most of the cost of bottled water goes to the company that ships it around, so even the people who purchase it still pay for their plastic at home. Anchorage has taken a proactive approach to this issue, however, and has banned the use of Styrofoam and other similar materials when storing bottles of water in city buildings. While some locals still adhere to an old-fashioned approach to bottle-swilling, the ban has made a huge impact on the city and, perhaps, the rest of the country.
Anchorage Water Treatment
Anchorage water treatment is a top-notch concern for the Anchorage residents. The city’s water supply is deceptively pure given the fact that it flows from the Kenai River, and even though the Kenai River drains into the Arctic Ocean, the Anchorage water is treated at an advanced stage by sophisticated treatment plants. But the Anchorage water treatment plants are highly efficient and are capable of processing more than ten million gallons of water per day. This translates to huge quantities of untreated water that ends up in the different municipal pipes, thus carrying harmful pollutants further into the atmosphere.
The city of Anchorage has been fighting a tough bout with pollution in recent times. The number of car exhausts has dramatically increased recently, with more than twenty million liters of oil and gasoline being dumped in the sea on a daily basis. These emissions have resulted in the melting of the arctic sea ice, which has led to less than desirable conditions for the fish population in the region. Anchorage water treatment plants have been putting in place measures to clean up the contaminated water, but the problem will continue unless drastic measures are implemented.
Anchorage is quite fortunate in the sense that they have a number of treatment plants spread out amongst the different districts. Water is distributed amongst the different districts through pipelines, hence the contamination in the city does not come from one particular pipe leading from the plant. The water is then handled using ultraviolet light to kill all the microorganisms and algae that are present in the water. The Anchorage water treatment center also ensures that the treated water is supplied to homes, offices, and other establishments.
Anchorage Safe Drinking Water
When people in Anchorage move to the city, they often wonder what is safe for them to drink, because if there really is safe drinking water then why there are so many people suffering from hepatitis and other water-borne illnesses? There are some excellent water systems throughout Alaska, and although the treatment facilities aren’t as up to par with those found in other states, they are still good enough to provide safe drinking water. This article will help those considering a move in Anchorage to make sure that their water is absolutely safe to drink. It will also explain what the best method of purification is, whether by reverse osmosis or another type of filtration system.
First of all, it should be noted that the water quality in Anchorage is just fine. It is just that some people in the city are at higher risk of developing certain water-borne illnesses than others. If you are concerned about the quality of your local water supply, then you should contact your municipal water utility and ask for testing kits or advice. The drinking water tested by the city last year was found to contain slightly above the national standard, which isn’t too bad given that it was the only water supply tested. The problem was a result of incorrectly testing the supply by one company, which sent contaminated water to a number of different testing sites.
The most important thing when considering how to find safe drinking water in Anchorage is to understand how contaminated the supply actually is. When you buy bottled water in Anchorage, know that the company has to buy the water from a wholesaler, and then send the sealed bottles through the post. Once there, they have to store the water in large storage tanks, which can get contaminated over time without the proper precautions being taken. Not all homes have these large tanks sitting around, so those who do may have an even higher risk of their water becoming contaminated, especially with the amount of waste that is created in the city’s plumbing system. With that said, you’ll want to invest in a good water filtration system that will be able to provide you with pure water from your tap at all times.
Anchorage Water Quality
If you are looking for the best Anchorage water quality then you have come to the right place. Anchorage is known as the “Greenstone of the East” and the Chugach Mountains that cover this city are among the most beautiful places to visit in Alaska. As a matter of fact, when the winter weather hits the state, Alaska literally glows with outdoor recreational activities. If you love hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and other winter sports, then you should come to Anchorage.
The City of Anchorage has seen a recent increase in tourism due to its vast wilderness area and spectacular views. A large portion of Anchorage’s population lives in the mountains surrounding the city, which make up about 42% of the total population. Alaska’s largest city is located on the Kenai Peninsula and is surrounded by the vast tundra-like landmass of Alaska. The great combination of natural resources and human-made infrastructure in Anchorage makes this city the perfect vacation or permanent home for people from all around the world.
One way that the city of Anchorage keeps its water quality in mind is that they implement strict rules when it comes to new development. In order to qualify for a zoning permit, developers need to build homes that conserve energy. This is why some of the houses in the area are so environmentally friendly. There is also a strict requirement that the roads are kept safe and the stormwater runoff properly so that the Anchorage water quality remains at its pristine levels.
Anchorage Water Sources
There are plenty of water sources in Anchorage, Alaska that will satisfy any craving you may have for a cold drink or a nice hot cup of coffee. The city is blessed with a number of natural bodies of water, including two major rivers that provide clean and clean drinking water to residents of Anchorage. Another natural body of water in the Anchorage area is the Anchorage National Seashore. The seashore is managed by the National Park Service and offers access to a number of hiking and wildlife trails, viewing wildlife such as salmon and eagles, and recreational opportunities like swimming, boating, and surfing.
Because the city of Anchorage is located in an area where weather can be extreme every day of the year, it is important that you find a reliable plumbing company in Anchorage that can take care of your plumbing needs. Anchorage is fortunate to have a number of great water sources that are not only dependable but also cost-effective when compared to using bottled water. The two major rivers in Anchorage are the Anchorage Creek watershed. These rivers offer clean and fresh water and are easy to reach from your home or business with the help of a local company that can take care of all your water needs. Another great source of water in the Anchorage area is the Anchorage main sewer line, which is able to handle the needs of the growing population of Anchorage.
If you are interested in using alternative forms of water, there are still plenty of Anchorage water sources available. The city of Anchorage is also fortunate to have one of the largest water recycling plants in the nation, so if you feel like you need to go green you will not be alone. There are also several waterfalls that are available to the public, so if you love to see nature in its natural form in your own backyard you should definitely head to the mountains and set your eyes on some of the waterfalls in the Anchorage area. Whether you choose to drink, bathe, or use the water in your outdoor water feature, you will be happy with the many Anchorage water sources that you will be able to find in the Anchorage area. Whether you want water from the creek, lake, or river there will be enough water sources for you to enjoy.
Anchorage Treatment Plant
The Anchorage Treatment Plantation is one of the two wastewater treatment plants located in Anchorage. The other plant is located in Seward. These two wastewater treatment plants process all residential and commercial stormwater runoff and sewage runoff that come through the city of Anchorage. They are separated by approximately a mile. This separation makes it easier for Anchorage to process all the stormwater that it does.
One of the primary functions of these treatment plants is to remove grease, oils, and organic materials from the stormwater. After this, it is treated and cleaned before it is released into the environment. Once cleaned, the water is conveyed into dedicated sewers. There, the stormwater is filtered and disinfected to make it safe to re-enter the community.
Anchorage has two different types of stormwater septic tanks. The first is a low-capacity septic tank. This tank is designed for residential customers and has a smaller capacity than the larger, more popular stormwater tank. This tank is also less expensive to operate. It is important that you contact your local Alaska stormwater treatment plant to determine what your options are for your septic system.
Anchorage Drinking Water Standards
Anchorage is a beautiful city and if you want to have a healthy life, then you need to make sure that your drinking water is safe. This is not easy to find out because most of the drinking water that is supplied to homes and businesses is treated in a municipal water treatment facility before it is distributed. However, this treatment does not guarantee that it is safe for consumption. You will need to regularly check the quality of your tap water and this can be a big job.
There are several different environmental factors that contribute to the quality of your water, but these problems are usually addressed by the municipal governments. If you are having problems with Anchorage water quality, you should call your city hall and ask what measures are being taken to improve the situation. Some of the problems that are common are excessive chlorine, fluoride in the water, bacteria, rust, and iron, among others. These problems can actually cause serious health complications, especially in children. Therefore, it is extremely important that you take the time to learn about the different standards set forth by the Alaska Department of Health.
The standards are designed to protect you and ensure that the water that your family consumes is clean and pure. However, if you live in an area that has stricter drinking water standards, then your municipal authority may not be as strict as you would like. In addition, there are still some other issues that are associated with your drinking water. These include testing for microorganisms, such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium, that may be in the water. However, these tests cannot detect the presence of some naturally occurring contaminants and they do not occur very often in Anchorage, therefore it is imperative that you check the quality of your municipal drinking water regularly.
Anchorage Water Contaminants
In some areas of Alaska, there are measurable amounts of contaminants in the water. These contaminants can include chemicals, bacteria, and other contaminants in the ocean. When fish are harvested in these areas, the pollutants that enter the water and contaminate it are commonly referred to as algal bloom. Algae bloom happens when the growth of algae produces more waste than the system can deal with. This waste may contain more contaminants than what the system can process and thus makes the water undrinkable.
The types of pollutants that can be found in the ocean by samples taken in the Pacific Ocean include nitrates, nitrites, turbidity, and the presence of metal ions. Although, some of these materials do not enter the ocean when the fish moves they can still impact marine life. Some types of pollutants can alter the growth patterns of the fish and change their reproductive behavior. When the fish reproduce too quickly or too slowly this can have disastrous effects on the ecosystems.
Fish reproduce faster during certain times of the year. This is because the temperature is warmer during that time of year. If the temperature rises high enough, it can cause the male fish to spawn too early. This can create a rapid depletion of the male fish and can lead to a spawning event that does not lead to survival. It also can lead to a female fish spawning too late.