Water System Report AK

College Utilities Corporation

EPA ID: AK2310900 ยท 27,000 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for College Utilities Corporation (AK2310900): PFAS sampling above the current EPA limit (UCMR5). In every reporting cycle over the past five years, College Utilities Corporation has come through without a single EPA violation - a consistent performance across the full service population of approximately 27,000 residents that reflects both well-maintained infrastructure and reliable operational oversight.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 67
Avg Safety Score
27,000
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$293K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for College Utilities Corporation Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$82,991
Median Household Income
59,368
Service Area Population
16%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The College Utilities Corporation serves a community with a median household income of $82,991 and an estimated 59,368 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

College Utilities Corporation'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.

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

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

46 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
24 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 66% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 12 detections recorded. 6 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 โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alaska

Jber-elmendorf
30,003 people
0 violations
1 violation
Golden Heart Utilities
78,324 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,400
PFAS Treatment $600
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,300

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:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,300 (one-time) vs. $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

College Utilities Corporation (EPA ID: AK2310900) is a community water system in Alaska that serves approximately 27,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 1 community.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (67/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 3 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.001 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 College Utilities Corporation (AK2310900) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is College Utilities Corporation water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for College Utilities Corporation in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does College Utilities Corporation serve?

College Utilities Corporation serves approximately 27,000 people across 3 ZIP codes in Alaska.

Where does College Utilities Corporation get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
6
Latest sample
12/19/2024
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 10.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 10.5 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOA 6.4 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 4.3 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 3.9 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from College Utilities Corporation safe to drink?
College Utilities Corporation has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
College Utilities Corporation meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does College Utilities Corporation serve?
College Utilities Corporation serves approximately 27,000 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is College Utilities Corporation's water source?
College Utilities Corporation draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in College Utilities Corporation's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of College Utilities Corporation's service area?
The College Utilities Corporation service area has a median household income of $82,991. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does College Utilities Corporation get its water?
College Utilities Corporation'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). College Utilities Corporation, AK: Serves 27K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ak2310900/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ak2310900,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{College Utilities Corporation, AK: Serves 27K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ak2310900/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

College Utilities Corporation (EPA ID: AK2310900) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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