Health Violations Found AK 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

North Pole Utilities

EPA ID: AK2310675 · 4,005 people served · 1 ZIP code

Looking at the EPA enforcement file for North Pole Utilities, 5 violations are listed as unresolved — those findings cover the utility's service area of approximately 4,005 people and remain open in the federal compliance system, awaiting formal corrective action documentation.

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

B · 73
Avg Safety Score
4,005
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
12
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00056 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
5
Contaminants Flagged
$290K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 2 (2023) to 1 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for North Pole Utilities Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$96,966
Median Household Income
22,281
Service Area Population
16%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
53%
Pre-1986 Housing

The North Pole Utilities serves a community with a median household income of $96,966 and an estimated 22,281 residents across its service area. Approximately 53% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

North Pole Utilities's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
0th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 9% of homes in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

41 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
29 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 59% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How North Pole Utilities compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 0700 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 4 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.07 ppt, PFOS: 0.07 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alaska

B 6 violations
A 0 violations
Seward
3,324 people
C 51 violations
C 25 violations
Petersburg
3,218 people
C 3 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $600
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,100

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 $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,100 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

North Pole Utilities (EPA ID: AK2310675) is a community water system in Alaska that serves approximately 4,005 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 99705 in North Pole.

Average Home Safety Score: B (73/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
April 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Unresolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
December 23, 2023 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Resolved
October 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 5 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 3 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 Yes
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 1 Yes

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
99705 0.00056 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

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

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by AK or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for North Pole Utilities (AK2310675) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Pole Utilities water safe to drink?

North Pole Utilities has recorded 2 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 North Pole Utilities serve?

North Pole Utilities serves approximately 4,005 people across 1 ZIP code in Alaska.

Where does North Pole Utilities get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Water Source & Treatment

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

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: North Pole Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.

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

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

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
1,653
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 2024-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 4,005
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 North Pole Utilities safe to drink?
North Pole Utilities earns a B safety grade with 12 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in North Pole Utilities's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Stage 2 DBP Rule, Consumer Confidence Report 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 North Pole Utilities serve?
North Pole Utilities serves approximately 4,005 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is North Pole Utilities's water source?
North Pole Utilities draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in North Pole Utilities's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00056 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of North Pole Utilities's service area?
The North Pole Utilities service area has a median household income of $96,966. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does North Pole Utilities get its water?
North Pole Utilities's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. 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

North Pole Utilities (EPA ID: AK2310675) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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