Health Violations Found AK 17 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Old Harbor

EPA ID: AK2250061 · 246 people served · 1 ZIP code

Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, Old Harbor shows 19 active EPA violations in the federal database for a service population of approximately 246.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

D · 43
Avg Safety Score
246
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
70
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.012 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
8
Contaminants Flagged
$95K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 11 (2024) to 4 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Old Harbor Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$31,250
Median Household Income
186
Service Area Population
20%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
73%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Old Harbor serves a community with a median household income of $31,250 and an estimated 186 residents across its service area. Approximately 73% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Old Harbor's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
0th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
0th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

54 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
16 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 77% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Old Harbor compares to EPA limits

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

E. coli at 34 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 15 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Revised Total Coliform Rule at 8 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

E. coli was detected in this water system. UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alaska

Nulato River Well
245 people
A 7 violations
B 31 violations
Goodnews Bay
250 people
B 50 violations
Churchill Park
250 people
0 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Water Filtration
Water Filtration $600
Total Estimated Cost $600

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Property Value Decline $4,750

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$9,875
10 years
$19,750
20 years
$39,500

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $600 (one-time) vs. $19,750 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Old Harbor (EPA ID: AK2250061) is a community water system in Alaska that serves approximately 246 people from surface water sources.

This system serves ZIP code 99643 in Old Harbor.

Average Home Safety Score: D (43/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

17 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 19 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
August 1, 2025 E. coli Health-based Unresolved
June 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
June 1, 2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
March 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2025 E. coli Health-based Resolved
January 1, 2025 E. coli Health-based Resolved
December 1, 2024 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
December 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
December 1, 2024 E. coli Health-based Resolved
December 1, 2024 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
November 1, 2024 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
November 1, 2024 E. coli Health-based Resolved
October 26, 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2024 E. coli Health-based Resolved
September 1, 2024 E. coli Health-based Resolved
August 1, 2024 E. coli Health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
E. coli Microbiological 34 Yes
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 15 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 8 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 6 No
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 3 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Health Risk Details

E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))

Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.

Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
99643 0.012 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Old Harbor (AK2250061) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Old Harbor water safe to drink?

Old Harbor has recorded 17 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Old Harbor serve?

Old Harbor serves approximately 246 people across 1 ZIP code in Alaska.

Where does Old Harbor get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Surface water
Drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

Source: OLD HARBOR Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
121
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-07-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 246
Reported to Alaska

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Old Harbor safe to drink?
Old Harbor has a D safety grade based on 70 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Old Harbor's water?
Detected contaminants include E. coli, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Old Harbor serve?
Old Harbor serves approximately 246 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Old Harbor's water source?
Old Harbor draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Old Harbor's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.012 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Old Harbor's service area?
The Old Harbor service area has a median household income of $31,250. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Old Harbor get its water?
Old Harbor's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Old Harbor (EPA ID: AK2250061) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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