Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in FAIRBANKS, Alaska
Tap water in FAIRBANKS, Alaska receives a grade of F (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in FAIRBANKS's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving FAIRBANKS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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 5.64 ppt, 5640x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 22.4 ppb, 373x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 46.3 ppb, 309x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES (system ID AK2310730) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
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 FAIRBANKS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in FAIRBANKS'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.
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 FAIRBANKS'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 |
5.64 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 5640× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
22.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 373× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
46.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 309× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
24.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 246× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
13.5 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 135× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
41.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 104× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.57 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 59× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.9 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.54 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 39× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.102 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.86 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.2× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0475 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
347.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.04 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.25 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.14 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.3 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.64 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.8 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.243 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES.