Fairbanks North Star Borough County, Alaska — public water systems

How does Fairbanks North Star Borough County compare with other Alaska counties?

Fairbanks North Star Borough County has the 5th-most active public water systems among the 25 counties listed for active Alaska systems in EPA records; among the 24 with 3 or more systems, the median has 23. Its systems report 162,441 people served in total, the 2nd-largest county figure in the state and 19% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 2,499 people, about 3.8 times the Alaska average of 653. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Fairbanks North Star Borough County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Fairbanks North Star Borough County's active systems draw on groundwater (58, 89%), purchased groundwater (6, 9.2%) and surface water (1, 1.5%). Overall, 98% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 1.5% on surface water, compared with 84% and 16% across Alaska. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Golden Heart Utilities, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Fairbanks North Star Borough County?

Fairbanks North Star Borough County's active systems break down as 24 community systems (37%), 11 non-transient non-community systems (17%) and 30 transient non-community systems (46%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (77%), local government (11%), state government (6.2%) and federal government (6.2%).