Health Violations Found AK 27 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Buckland Water System

EPA ID: AK2340125 · 600 people served · 1 ZIP code

Unlike fully compliant utilities, Buckland Water System has 12 outstanding EPA violations for approximately 600 residents.

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

C · 66
Avg Safety Score
600
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
65
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0022 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
7
Contaminants Flagged
$72K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 3 (2022) to 2 (2025). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Buckland Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$56,136
Median Household Income
629
Service Area Population
100%
Disadvantaged Population
80th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Buckland Water System serves a community with a median household income of $56,136 and an estimated 629 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.

Environmental Justice Note: 100% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Buckland Water System'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 24% of homes in Northwest Arctic 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

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

Detected Contaminants

How Buckland Water System compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 10 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 10 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Fecal Coliform at 29 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

E. coli at 18 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.

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

Lead and Copper Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alaska

Nsbu - Wainwright
600 people
B 5 violations
A 27 violations
Kotlik Water System
617 people
C 61 violations
B 17 violations
B 14 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 $3,600

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$9,300
10 years
$18,600
20 years
$37,200

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $600 (one-time) vs. $18,600 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

Buckland Water System (EPA ID: AK2340125) is a community water system in Alaska that serves approximately 600 people from surface water sources.

This system serves ZIP code 99727 in Buckland.

Average Home Safety Score: C (66/100)

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

Violation History

27 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 12 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
September 6, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
September 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Unresolved
September 1, 2025 Fecal Coliform Health-based Unresolved
July 6, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2025 Fecal Coliform Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2025 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring Unresolved
June 1, 2025 Fecal Coliform Monitoring Resolved
June 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
May 1, 2025 Fecal Coliform Monitoring Resolved
May 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2025 Fecal Coliform Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 E. coli Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2025 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring Unresolved
December 1, 2024 Fecal Coliform Monitoring Resolved
December 1, 2024 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2024 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2024 Fecal Coliform Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2024 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Fecal Coliform Microbiological 29 Yes
E. coli Microbiological 18 Yes
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 10 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 3 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 3 No
Barium Inorganic 1 No
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 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
99727 0.0022 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 Buckland Water System (AK2340125) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buckland Water System water safe to drink?

Buckland Water System has recorded 27 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 Buckland Water System serve?

Buckland Water System serves approximately 600 people across 1 ZIP code in Alaska.

Where does Buckland Water System 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: BUCKLAND WATER SYSTEM 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
120
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: 600
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 Buckland Water System safe to drink?
Buckland Water System has a C safety grade based on 65 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Buckland Water System's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Fecal Coliform, E. coli, Stage 1 DBP 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 Buckland Water System serve?
Buckland Water System serves approximately 600 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Buckland Water System's water source?
Buckland Water System draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Buckland Water System's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0022 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Buckland Water System's service area?
The Buckland Water System service area has a median household income of $56,136. EPA EJScreen data classifies 100% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Buckland Water System get its water?
Buckland Water System'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

Buckland Water System (EPA ID: AK2340125) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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