What was found in Fairbanks'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 | 9450 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 7/17 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 9430 µg/L 94% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 10/17 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 3900 µg/L 300% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 15/17 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 400 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 9/17 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 150.4 µg/L 188% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 5/17 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 130 µg/L 6.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 8/17 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 130 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/17 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 84 µg/L 140% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 5/17 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 83 µg/L 553% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 14/17 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 46 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/17 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 39 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/17 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/17 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 10 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 3/17 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 9.25 µg/L 93% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 7/17 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 5 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 2/17 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3 pCi/L 60% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 3/17 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 2.7 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/17 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/17 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.4 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 2/17 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.2 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/17 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/17 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 0.8000 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/17 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.7000 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/17 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.1200 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/17 | SYR4 |
| PFHXS | 0.0105 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/17 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0064 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/17 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0046 mg/L 31% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 15/17 | LCR |
| Pfhxa | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/17 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0039 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/17 | UCMR-5 |
Water suppliers serving Fairbanks
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES | 78,324 |
| COLLEGE UTILITIES CORPORATION | 27,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA - FAIRBANKS | 6,200 |
| H2O 2U, DBA THE FILL | 2,400 |
| VALLEY WATER COMPANY | 1,575 |
| PIONEER WELLS AT FOX | 880 |
| PIONEER WELLS | 600 |
| DOT & PF FOX WATERING POINT | 350 |
| FAIRBANKS WATER COMPANY LLC | 325 |
| TWIN SPRINGS WATER | 310 |
| WILDWOOD HOMES LLC | 114 |
| RAINBOW VALLEY MHP | 105 |
| NELSON PARK | 80 |
| WHITE BIRCH APARTMENTS | 72 |
| PTARMIGAN HEIGHTS UTILITIES | 53 |
| COZY NORTHERN HOMES, LLC | 38 |
| BIRCHVIEW RENTAL PROPERTIES, LLC | 31 |
Frequently asked questions about Fairbanks tap water
Is Fairbanks tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Fairbanks. 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 Fairbanks?
17 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Fairbanks, Alaska to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Fairbanks's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Fairbanks include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, TTHM. 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.