COUNTY REPORT AK

Ketchikan Gateway County, Alaska

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 56/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04

Within Ketchikan Gateway County, 6 tracked ZIP codes reveal moderate water quality — national standards are generally met, with some documented exceptions.

How Ketchikan Gateway County Compares

Ketchikan Gateway County56/100
Alaska avg75/100
National avg68/100

How Ketchikan Gateway County Compares

C
County Grade
56/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems

Ketchikan Gateway County scores 19 points below the Alaska state average (75/100) and 12 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

C
County Grade
56
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 99950 (67/100)
Lowest ZIP: 99926 (50/100)
$360K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Avg Remediation (33% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Ketchikan Gateway County, Alaska

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.5 (asthma 10.9%, diabetes 11.2%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $832, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.417% avg pipe failure probability, 17% of ZIPs at high risk

54.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Ketchikan Gateway County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
4 (4 health)
2024
10 (10 health)
2025
16 (16 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 16 violations. Past 5 years: 30 total (30 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.9% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.2% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 37.5% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1973
Median Build Year
54.8%
Pre-1978 Housing
42%
Pipe Failure Probability
17%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $832

Sea Level Rise $400/yr
Energy Code Gap $150/yr
Underground Tanks $107/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

7,402 housing units in Ketchikan Gateway County

Pre-1940 11%
1940–1959 15%
1960–1979 31%
1980–1999 31%
2000+ 12%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Ketchikan Gateway County

$360K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation Cost
0.3%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Ketchikan Gateway County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Ketchikan Gateway County residents

Asthma 10.9% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.2% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 37.5% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Ketchikan Gateway County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Ketchikan Water, Truck 1 100 80
2 Ketchikan Public Utilities 8,937 68
3 South Tongass Water Utility 975 68
4 Saxman 450 68
5 Vallenar View Mobile Home Park 225 68

7 total water systems serve Ketchikan Gateway County.

All ZIP Codes in Ketchikan Gateway County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Ketchikan Gateway County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 99950 Ketchikan 67 C 34 (4 health)
2 99901 Ketchikan 65 C 34 (4 health) $379K
3 99928 Ward Cove 56 C 12
4 99540 Indian 50 D 0 $360K
5 99923 Hyder 50 D 0
6 99926 Metlakatla 50 D 0 $161K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Ketchikan Gateway County

If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.

Overview

Ketchikan Gateway County in Alaska covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (56/100).

3 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 8 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Alaska water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Ketchikan Gateway County?
Ketchikan Gateway County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Ketchikan Gateway County?
Ketchikan Gateway County is served by 7 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Ketchikan Gateway County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Ketchikan Gateway County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $832 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Ketchikan Gateway County?
The median home build year in Ketchikan Gateway County is 1973. 54.8% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Ketchikan Gateway County compare to Alaska?
Ketchikan Gateway County has an average water safety score of 56/100, which is below the Alaska state average of 75/100.

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