Alaska Water Quality Report: 14,004 Violations Across 274 ZIPs
311 water systems · 274 ZIP codes · 14,004 violations · Updated 2026-05-31
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified: 2026-05-31
City Water Quality Map: Alaska
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Alaska.
Cities with Most Violations in Alaska
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage | C | 7,300 | 5 | 229,426 | Details → |
| 2 | Nunam Iqua | C | 167 | 1 | 213 | Details → |
| 3 | Angoon | C | 163 | 1 | 450 | Details → |
| 4 | Akutan | A | 149 | 1 | 95 | Details → |
| 5 | Sleetmute | C | 147 | 1 | 82 | Details → |
| 6 | Takotna | B | 144 | 1 | 70 | Details → |
| 7 | Chalkyitsik | D | 140 | 1 | 76 | Details → |
| 8 | Bethel | B | 136 | 5 | 5,380 | Details → |
| 9 | Kwigillingok | B | 134 | 1 | 400 | Details → |
| 10 | Fairbanks | B | 130 | 5 | 151,884 | Details → |
Cities with Best Water Quality in Alaska
| # | City | Grade | Score | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jber | A | 88/100 | 1 | 30,003 |
| 2 | Fort Wainwright | A | 88/100 | 1 | 20,076 |
| 3 | Delta Junction | A | 88/100 | 4 | 1,573 |
| 4 | Valdez | A | 87/100 | 4 | 5,687 |
Most Common Contaminants in Alaska
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 3,190 | 101 | Yes |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 1,930 | 88 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1,559 | 124 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 916 | 43 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 726 | 148 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 716 | 145 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 575 | 121 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 399 | 36 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 230 | 71 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 222 | 84 | Yes |
Water Quality Overview
Alaska has 311 community water systems serving approximately 1,150,155 people across 274 ZIP codes. These systems have accumulated 14,004 EPA violations, including 1,173 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 8% of all violations in Alaska. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 1,173 | 8.4% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 12,831 | 91.6% |
| Total | 14,004 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report — these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Alaska have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage | C | 7,300 | 5 | 229,426 |
| 2 | Nunam Iqua | C | 167 | 1 | 213 |
| 3 | Angoon | C | 163 | 1 | 450 |
| 4 | Akutan | A | 149 | 1 | 95 |
| 5 | Sleetmute | C | 147 | 1 | 82 |
| 6 | Takotna | B | 144 | 1 | 70 |
| 7 | Chalkyitsik | D | 140 | 1 | 76 |
| 8 | Bethel | B | 136 | 5 | 5,380 |
| 9 | Kwigillingok | B | 134 | 1 | 400 |
| 10 | Fairbanks | B | 130 | 5 | 151,884 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Cities with Best Water Quality
These Alaska cities maintain Grade A water with zero violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Score | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jber | A | 88/100 | 1 | 30,003 |
| 2 | Fort Wainwright | A | 88/100 | 1 | 20,076 |
| 3 | Delta Junction | A | 88/100 | 4 | 1,573 |
| 4 | Valdez | A | 87/100 | 4 | 5,687 |
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Alaska:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 87 |
| 2022 | 153 | 153 |
| 2023 | 145 | 145 |
| 2024 | 209 | 209 |
| 2025 | 130 | 130 |
Violations have increased from 87 in 2021 to 130 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Alaska water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 3,190 | 101 | Yes |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 1,930 | 88 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1,559 | 124 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 916 | 43 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 726 | 148 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 716 | 145 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 575 | 121 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 399 | 36 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 230 | 71 | No |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 204 | 77 | No |
How to Check Your Water in Alaska
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water system data including contaminant levels, violation history, and safety scores
Request your CCR — every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test — certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration — NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 2,582 enforcement actions against water systems in Alaska. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) — the legal limit designed to protect human health. Alaska has 1,173 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Alaska?
Alaska has 311 community water systems with 14,004 recorded EPA violations, including 1,173 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code — check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Alaska have?
Alaska has 14,004 total EPA violations across 274 ZIP codes. 1,173 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Alaska has the worst water quality?
Anchorage, AK has the most EPA violations among major cities in Alaska with 7300 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Alaska has the best water quality?
Jber, AK ranks among the best for water quality in Alaska with a grade of A. Multiple cities in Alaska maintain strong EPA compliance records.
What contaminants are found in Alaska drinking water?
Alaska water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region — check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.