Alaska – The Last FrontierWater – Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your state
Alaska’s water infrastructure serves approximately 741,000 residents across the nation’s largest state, spanning 663,000 square miles from Arctic communities to temperate rainforests. The state operates through a complex network of over 1,000 public water systems, ranging from sophisticated urban utilities like Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, which serves nearly 300,000 customers, to small rural systems providing essential services to remote communities. Alaska’s water sources include pristine glacial lakes, mountain watersheds, and groundwater aquifers, with approximately 83% of public water systems relying on groundwater sources.
Despite abundant water resources from glaciers and mountain runoff, Alaska faces unprecedented infrastructure challenges unique among U.S. states. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2025 Infrastructure Report Card, Alaska’s drinking water infrastructure received a D+ grade, reflecting critical disparities between urban and rural systems. The state has received over $45 million in federal infrastructure investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address these challenges, focusing on PFAS contamination removal, rural system development, and climate resilience. Alaska’s commitment to water quality improvement is demonstrated through partnerships between the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), federal agencies, and tribal organizations working to ensure safe water access for all residents, including over 3,300 rural homes that still lack running water and flush toilets.
Alaska Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
Statewide Compliance and Testing
- Overall Compliance: Most of Alaska’s 1,000+ public water systems meet federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, though significant PFAS contamination has been identified at multiple sites, particularly near airports and military installations.
- PFAS Monitoring: Alaska has documented extensive PFAS contamination with some of the highest concentrations in the nation, including levels exceeding 14,600 ng/L near Department of Transportation facilities and airports where firefighting foam was used.
- Infrastructure Investment: Over $45 million in federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been allocated to Alaska for water infrastructure improvements, with additional focus on rural communities through the Village Safe Water program.
Urban vs. Rural Disparities
- Urban Systems: Cities like Anchorage have world-class water systems with pristine glacial sources from Eklutna Lake, comprehensive treatment processes, and excellent compliance records with over 3,000 annual water quality tests.
- Rural Challenges: Approximately 32 rural communities still lack in-home piped water systems, with over 3,300 homes relying on hauled water or subsistence sources, creating significant public health challenges.
- Climate Change Impacts: Thawing permafrost, coastal erosion, and changing precipitation patterns are damaging existing infrastructure and threatening water sources, particularly in Arctic and coastal communities.
PFAS Contamination Response
- Source Identification: Major PFAS contamination sources include military bases, airports using aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), and industrial facilities, with documented contamination in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and numerous rural communities.
- Health Advisory Response: Alaska Department of Transportation has responded in 25 communities where PFAS contamination was identified, providing alternative water sources and connecting properties to municipal systems where possible.
- Regulatory Alignment: Alaska has aligned state action levels with EPA health advisories and is preparing for new federal PFAS drinking water standards taking effect in 2031, with recent EPA extensions providing additional compliance time.
Arctic and Remote Community Challenges
- Extreme Operating Conditions: Water systems must function in temperatures as low as -60°F, requiring specialized insulation, circulation systems, and freeze-prevention technologies that significantly increase construction and operational costs.
- Limited Technical Capacity: Remote communities face challenges hiring and retaining certified water operators, with limited access to technical support and replacement parts for system maintenance.
- Health Impacts: Lack of running water and sanitation in rural areas contributes to some of the highest rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in the world, particularly in Southwest Alaska communities.
Looking Forward: 2025-2030
Alaska’s water quality landscape faces a critical transition as communities adapt to accelerating climate change while addressing legacy PFAS contamination and rural infrastructure deficits. The state’s $4.5 billion in water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years will require innovative solutions including new technologies for Arctic conditions, enhanced federal partnerships, and community-based approaches. Climate change is forcing Alaska to reimagine water infrastructure design, moving beyond traditional approaches to embrace resilient systems that can withstand thawing permafrost, increased flooding, and unpredictable weather patterns while ensuring that no Alaskan community is left without access to safe drinking water.
Recommendations for Alaska Residents
Test Your Water Source
Contact your water utility for annual water quality reports and ask specifically about PFAS testing results. For private wells, especially near airports or military facilities, consider independent PFAS testing from Alaska DEC-approved laboratories.
Support Rural Infrastructure
Advocate for continued federal funding for Alaska’s Village Safe Water program and support innovative solutions for Arctic water systems. Understanding rural water challenges helps build statewide support for equitable infrastructure investment.
Consider Advanced Filtration
For areas with known PFAS contamination, especially near airports or military installations, consider NSF-certified activated carbon or reverse osmosis filters specifically tested for PFAS removal to provide additional protection.
Report Water Quality Concerns
Contact your local water utility immediately for taste, odor, or color concerns. Report suspected contamination to Alaska DEC’s Division of Water at (907) 269-7635 or the Contaminated Sites Program at (907) 465-5250 for investigation.
Prepare for Arctic Conditions
Implement freeze protection measures like insulation and circulation systems for water lines. During extreme cold, run water periodically to prevent freezing and consider emergency water storage for potential service disruptions.
Alaska Cities We Cover
Anchorage Water Quality
Comprehensive analysis of Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, serving nearly 300,000 customers with pristine glacial water from Eklutna Lake. Includes information on treatment processes, PFAS monitoring in local lakes, and infrastructure modernization efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alaska’s tap water safe to drink?
Alaska’s urban water systems, particularly Anchorage, provide some of the nation’s highest quality drinking water from pristine glacial sources. However, rural communities face significant challenges.
While most of Alaska’s 1,000+ public water systems meet federal standards, approximately 32 rural communities still lack in-home piped water, and over 3,300 homes rely on hauled water. PFAS contamination has been identified near airports and military facilities statewide. Urban residents enjoy world-class water quality, while rural areas may face challenges including limited treatment capacity, contamination risks, and climate change impacts on infrastructure.
Why does Alaska have extensive PFAS contamination?
Alaska’s PFAS contamination primarily stems from decades of firefighting foam use at military bases and airports throughout the state.
Alaska has documented some of the highest PFAS concentrations in the nation due to extensive use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) at military installations and airports. Sites like Fairbanks International Airport, Eielson Air Force Base, and numerous other facilities used PFAS-containing firefighting foams for training and emergency response. The Alaska Department of Transportation has responded in 25 communities where PFAS contamination was identified, providing alternative water sources and treatment solutions.
How can I access Alaska water quality information?
Alaska residents can access water quality information through several state and federal resources:
• Alaska DEC Water Quality Program: Visit dec.alaska.gov for integrated water quality reports, PFAS contamination data, and surface water assessments
• Utility Annual Reports: Contact your local water system for Consumer Confidence Reports detailing all testing results and compliance information
• PFAS Contamination: Contact the Alaska DEC Contaminated Sites Program at (907) 465-5250 to learn about PFAS testing and cleanup in your community
• EPA’s How’s My Waterway: Use this online mapper to check the current status of waterbodies in Alaska and view assessment results
What unique challenges face Alaska’s water infrastructure?
Alaska’s water infrastructure faces unprecedented challenges due to climate, geography, and scale:
Extreme Climate: Water systems must function in temperatures as low as -60°F, requiring specialized freeze protection, insulation, and circulation systems that dramatically increase costs
Climate Change Impacts: Thawing permafrost is warping water lines, coastal erosion threatens water sources, and changing precipitation patterns affect system reliability
Geographic Isolation: Remote communities face extreme costs for materials transport, limited technical support, and difficulties hiring certified operators
Rural Disparities: Over 3,300 homes still lack running water, contributing to high rates of infectious disease in Southwest Alaska communities
The state is addressing these challenges through federal partnerships, innovative Arctic technologies, and the Village Safe Water program focused on rural community needs.
Quality News About Your Water
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Contaminants of Concern
PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Source: Extensive use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) at military bases and airports throughout Alaska, including major contamination sites at Fairbanks International Airport, Eielson Air Force Base, and numerous rural airports
Health Effects: Linked to cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression, and developmental effects, with particular concern for subsistence communities consuming contaminated fish and wildlife
Current Status: Alaska has documented some of the highest PFAS concentrations in the nation, with levels exceeding 14,600 ng/L at contamination sources and significant contamination in Anchorage lakes and rural groundwater
EPA Limits: New federal standards require compliance by 2031, with Alaska DOT providing alternative water sources to affected communities while treatment solutions are implemented
Climate Change Impacts
Source: Thawing permafrost, coastal erosion, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events affecting water infrastructure and quality across Alaska
Health Effects: Infrastructure failures leading to service disruptions, contamination risks from damaged systems, and increased waterborne illness risks in communities without reliable water access
Current Status: Permafrost temperatures rising statewide, with communities like Point Lay losing entire freshwater reservoirs to sudden drainage, and coastal communities facing erosion threats to water sources
Adaptation Response: Development of climate-resilient infrastructure designs, relocation planning for threatened communities, and innovative Arctic water technologies
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