Public water system · AK2121510
ActiveSouth Tongass Water Utility
At a glance
South Tongass Water Utility (PWSID AK2121510) is an active community water system in Ketchikan Gateway Borough County, Alaska. It reports serving 975 people through 327 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
975
Service connections
327
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does South Tongass Water Utility compare with other water systems in Ketchikan Gateway Borough County?
By EPA's size categories, South Tongass Water Utility is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Ketchikan Gateway Borough County has 22 active public water systems, and South Tongass Water Utility is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 74% above the county average of 560 people per system, and accounts for 7.9% of the 12,315 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Alaska, the 1,322 active systems average 653 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so South Tongass Water Utility is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Alaska has 406 active community water systems, 31% of the state's 1,322 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 150 Alaska systems (11%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates South Tongass Water Utility?
EPA lists South Tongass Water Utility as owned by a local government. The AK state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 5 of the 22 active systems in Ketchikan Gateway Borough County (23%) are also owned by a local government.
Does South Tongass Water Utility have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between July 2017 and July 2025. By type: 5 monitoring and reporting, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 required treatment not met and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Haloacetic acids (HAA5) (4 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2025-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2025-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) · code 38 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) · code 38 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) · code 38 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-10-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-07-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
South Tongass Water Utility: frequently asked questions
Who runs South Tongass Water Utility?
South Tongass Water Utility (PWSID AK2121510) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the AK state drinking water program.
How many people does South Tongass Water Utility serve?
South Tongass Water Utility reports serving 975 people through 327 service connections in Ketchikan Gateway Borough County, Alaska.
Where does South Tongass Water Utility get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does South Tongass Water Utility have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is South Tongass Water Utility's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the AK state drinking water program.
Where can I find South Tongass Water Utility's water quality report?
As a community water system, South Tongass Water Utility must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Ketchikan Gateway Borough County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketchikan Public Utilities | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 8,937 | Community | Surface water |
| Saxman | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 450 | Community | Surface water |
| Point Higgins Elementary School | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 300 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Knudson Cove Marina | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 233 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Vallenar View Mobile Home Park | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 225 | Community | Surface water |
| Waterfall Resort | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 168 | Transient non-community | Surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “South Tongass Water Utility, PWSID AK2121510, Alaska”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/alaska/south-tongass-water-utility-ak2121510 (data as of October 1, 2026).