Northwest Arctic County, Alaska
12 ZIP codes · Avg score 76/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Throughout Northwest Arctic County, the 12 monitored ZIP codes show low violation rates and healthy safety scores — a pattern that puts the county well above the state baseline for drinking water quality.
How Northwest Arctic County Compares
How Northwest Arctic County Compares
Northwest Arctic County scores 1 points above the Alaska state average (75/100) and 8 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Northwest Arctic County, Alaska
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 15.3 (asthma 13.1%, diabetes 13.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $676, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.57% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk
51.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Northwest Arctic County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 37 violations. Past 5 years: 112 total (112 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $676
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
2,656 housing units in Northwest Arctic County
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 Northwest Arctic County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Northwest Arctic County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selawik Safewater Facility | 846 | 92 |
| 2 | Deering Utility System | 160 | 69 |
| 3 | Kivalina Water System | 452 | 66 |
| 4 | Buckland Water System | 600 | 65 |
| 5 | Kobuk Water System | 93 | 48 |
11 total water systems serve Northwest Arctic County.
All ZIP Codes in Northwest Arctic County
12 ZIP codes tracked in Northwest Arctic County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99749 | Kiana | 98 | A | 7 (1 health) | $122K |
| 2 | 99773 | Shungnak | 95 | A | 47 (3 health) | $85K |
| 3 | 99786 | Ambler | 95 | A | 10 (3 health) | $87K |
| 4 | 99763 | Noorvik | 94 | A | 27 (4 health) | $138K |
| 5 | 99761 | Noatak | 84 | B | 19 | $156K |
| 6 | 99751 | Kobuk | 74 | B | 48 (11 health) | — |
| 7 | 99770 | Selawik | 70 | B | 92 (24 health) | $73K |
| 8 | 99727 | Buckland | 66 | C | 65 (27 health) | $72K |
| 9 | 99736 | Deering | 66 | C | 69 (14 health) | $106K |
| 10 | 99750 | Kivalina | 66 | C | 66 (25 health) | $120K |
| 11 | 99752 | Kotzebue | 59 | C | 25 (24 health) | $265K |
| 12 | 99766 | Point Hope | 50 | D | 0 | $185K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Northwest Arctic 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.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 51.9% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Northwest Arctic County, Alaska
Overview
Northwest Arctic County in Alaska covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (76/100).
11 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 136 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Alaska water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.