Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES
GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES delivers tap water graded F (49/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 78,324 residents in FAIRBANKS, Alaska using groundwater. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 907-479-3118.
Is FAIRBANKS tap water safe to drink?
GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (49/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 78,324 residents in FAIRBANKS, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chromium (hexavalent), Chlorate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for FAIRBANKS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES.
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.
Contact GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for FAIRBANKS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 49/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES service area
This water system serves 1 community in Fairbanks North Star Borough County, Alaska. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for FAIRBANKS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.