Is Anchorage, AK tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

40 public water systems serve parts of Anchorage. The largest, Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility, serves 221,351 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility

221,351 people · Surface water · EPA ID AK2210906

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	4.55 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Detected, below limit	7.35 ppt	10 ppt	Detected, below limit
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 96% of the Alaska systems EPA tested.

Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility results

Across Alaska, 2 of 28 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 3 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Alaska results.

Anchorage homes and lead pipes

45%

of homes built before 1980 (Alaska 37%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (Alaska 3%)

36%

of households rent (Alaska 33%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Anchorage municipality (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Anchorage
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility 221,351 people	99501, 99502, 99504, 99507, 99508, 99513, 99515, 99516, 99517, 99530, 99540, 99567, 99577
Jber-Elmendorf Water System 30,003 people	99506
Doyon Utilities Jber – Richardson 20,284 people	99505
Unified Alaskan Utilities – Homestead Division 708 people	99518
Alyeska Creekside Apartments Water System 60 people	99587

Other water systems serving Anchorage

Jber-Elmendorf Water System
30,003 people · Purchased surface water · Alaska · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
Doyon Utilities Jber – Richardson
20,284 people · Surface water · Alaska · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
Ow Dimond Estates Trailer Court Water System
1,395 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Southwood Manor Tc Water System
1,005 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violationAlso: Arsenic violation
Penland Park MHP
993 people · Purchased surface water · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Manoogs Isle Mobile Home Park Water System
935 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016

33 more systems

Glencaren Court Water System
828 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Rangeview Tc Water System
795 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Valli Vue S/D Water System
794 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
No PFAS above limitsAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Unified Alaskan Utilities – Homestead Division
708 people · Groundwater · Alaska · reported ZIPs here
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Mayflower Tc Water System
650 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Golden Nugget RV Park, Malaspina MHP
600 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Romig Park S/D Water System
493 people · Purchased surface water · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 3 health-based violations since 2016
Totem Trailer Town Tc Water System
480 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Sand Lake Services
465 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Riviera Terrace Tc Water System
435 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 5 health-based violations since 2016
Potter Creek Water Company
375 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Glenn Muldoon Tc Water System
354 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Unified Alaskan Utilities Moorehand Division
350 people · Purchased surface water · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Kathy O Estates Water System
242 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 5 health-based violations since 2016
Alpine Woods Water System
200 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
South Park Estate Tc Water System
175 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Coliform bacteria violation
Anchorage Sands Apartments Water System
160 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hillside Park S/D Water System
144 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 3 health-based violations since 2016
Greenbrook S/D Water System
123 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Eaglecrest Condos Association.
120 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Trails End MHP
100 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 2 health-based violations since 2016
Green Acres Tc Water System
96 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Quiet View Apts Water System
96 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Spring Forest Homeowners Association.
94 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Dearmoun II Water System
80 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Tudor East Apartments Water System
78 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
East 98th Avenue Well HOA
76 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sky Ranch Estates #1 Upper Well
75 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sky Ranch Estates #2 Lower Well
72 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Country Lane Apartments Water System
60 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Alyeska Creekside Apartments Water System
60 people · Groundwater · Alaska · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limitsAlso: 2 health-based violations since 2016
Lake O the Hills East Water System
56 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Sun Valley Heights North Water System
51 people · Groundwater · Alaska · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Fairbanks 258 mi Golden Heart Utilities	Golden Heart Utilities	None above limits	2.4 ppb
Juneau 538 mi City and Borough of Juneau Water System	City and Borough of Juneau Water System	None above limits	0 ppb

Questions

Is Anchorage tap water safe to drink?

Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Anchorage, AK?

40 public water systems serve parts of Anchorage. The largest is Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility (221,351 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Anchorage tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA at Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Anchorage homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 45% of Anchorage homes as built before 1980 (Alaska: 37%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.