What was found in Anchorage's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 9810 µg/L 98% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 29/46 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 5440 µg/L 54% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 12/46 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 1720 µg/L 132% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 45/46 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 660 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 100 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 24/46 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 74 µg/L 123% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 4/46 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 68.3 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 7/46 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 66.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 9/46 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 40 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/46 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 35 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/46 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 33 µg/L 220% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 42/46 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 19.1 µg/L 191% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 25/46 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/46 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 7.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Styrene | 6.36 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/46 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 6.3 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/46 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 6.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 3 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 5/46 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.8 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 6/46 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.3 µg/L 4.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.6 pCi/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 4/46 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.53 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/46 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.23 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.19 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.6900 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/46 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.3010 µg/L 7.5% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L | 1/46 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.1860 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/46 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0299 mg/L 199% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 46/46 | LCR |
| PFHXS | 0.0112 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/46 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0091 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/46 | UCMR-5 |
Water suppliers serving Anchorage
Frequently asked questions about Anchorage tap water
Is Anchorage tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 31 contaminants in the water serving Anchorage. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Anchorage?
46 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Anchorage, Alaska to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Anchorage's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Anchorage include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.