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Tap water quality report

Barrow, AK

EPA monitoring detected 20 contaminants across the 2 water suppliers serving Barrow. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — see the highest level found for each below, with its EPA source and period.

2
water suppliers
5,538
people served
20
contaminants found
Alaska rankings Lead in Alaska PFAS in Alaska

What was found in Barrow's water

The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.

ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitSuppliersSource
Nitrate-Nitrite
300 µg/L 3%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
 1/2 SYR4
Copper
91 µg/L 7%
of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L
 1/2 SYR4
TTHM
11.2 µg/L 14%
of the EPA limit 80 µg/L
 2/2 SYR4
Xylenes, Total
10.1 µg/L 0.1%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
 1/2 SYR4
Bromodichloromethane
3.6 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/2 SYR4
Chloroform
3.5 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/2 SYR4
Dibromochloromethane
3.4 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/2 SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
2.8 µg/L 4.7%
of the EPA limit 60 µg/L
 2/2 SYR4
Lead
2.7 µg/L 18%
of the EPA limit 15 µg/L
 1/2 SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid
2 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/2 SYR4
Bromoform
1.8 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/2 SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid
1.7 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/2 SYR4
Ethylbenzene
1.4 µg/L 0.2%
of the EPA limit 700 µg/L
 1/2 SYR4
PFOS
0.0463 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/2 UCMR-5
PFHXS
0.0185 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/2 UCMR-5
Pfba
0.0115 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/2 UCMR-5
Pfhxa
0.0081 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/2 UCMR-5
Pfpea
0.0060 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/2 UCMR-5
Lead
0.0040 mg/L 27%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
 1/2 LCR
Pfhpa
0.0039 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/2 UCMR-5
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Barrow

SupplierPopulation served
BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU 4,900
THE WATER SERVICE 638

Frequently asked questions about Barrow tap water

Is Barrow tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Barrow. 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 Barrow?

2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Barrow, Alaska to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Barrow's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Barrow include Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, TTHM, Xylenes, Total, Bromodichloromethane. 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.