Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Anchorage, Alaska
Tap water in Anchorage, Alaska receives a grade of C (71/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by MOA MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Anchorage's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Anchorage.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.0 ppt, 1004x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 4.43 ppb, 74x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 8.48 ppb, 57x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.06 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for MOA MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE (system ID AK2210906) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/31/2025 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Anchorage
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Anchorage's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Anchorage's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.0 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1004× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.43 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 74× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
8.48 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 57× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
4.68 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 47× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.585 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.16 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.92 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.06 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 15× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.52 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.348 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.8× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.379 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 4.2× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.563 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.526 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.8× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
85.9 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.06 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
20.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.416 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
8.62 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.463 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.23 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.131 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Asbestos Other |
0.16 | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.227 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
0.465 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.106 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from MOA MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE.