Northwest Arctic Borough County, Alaska — public water systems

How does Northwest Arctic Borough County compare with other Alaska counties?

Northwest Arctic Borough County has the 15th-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 8,887 people served in total, the 16th-largest county figure in the state and 1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 555 people, about 15% below 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 Northwest Arctic Borough County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Northwest Arctic Borough County's active systems draw on surface water (9, 56%), groundwater (4, 25%), groundwater under influence of surface water (2, 13%) and purchased surface water (1, 6.3%). Overall, 38% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 63% on surface water, compared with 84% and 16% across Alaska. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. The county's largest system, Kotzebue Mun. Water System, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Northwest Arctic Borough County?

Northwest Arctic Borough County's active systems break down as 11 community systems (69%), 4 non-transient non-community systems (25%) and 1 transient non-community systems (6.3%). 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 Native American (69%), private (25%) and local government (6.3%).