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North Slope Borough, AK Water Quality

Water quality data for 8 public water systems serving North Slope Borough, Alaska — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 8 water systems · 8 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

North Slope Borough Earns a B

North Slope Borough: 8 communities across 8 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 1.60 ppb
  • 6 communities with a lead detection, 2 reporting none detected
  • 1 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 4 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
1.6 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
8
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Atqasuk
    3.20 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Kaktovik
    1.80 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Anaktuvuk Pass
    0.33 ppb
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    B
  • Wainwright
    0.70 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
  • Point Lay
    1.40 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Utqiaġvik
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 3 sampling points
    D
  • Nuiqsut
    5.00 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
  • Point Hope
    Not detected
    8 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Wainwright
    0.70 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
  • Point Lay
    1.40 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
County Lead Level — Median 1.6 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 1.6 ppb — 10.7% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
5
5 – 10 ppb
1
No Data
2

All Cities in North Slope Borough

Anaktuvuk Pass 0.33 ppb B
Atqasuk 3.20 ppb B
Kaktovik 1.80 ppb B
Nuiqsut 5.00 ppb B
Point Hope Not detected B
Point Lay 1.40 ppb B
Utqiaġvik Not detected D
Wainwright 0.70 ppb B
Showing 8 cities
No active violations Active violations

About North Slope Borough Drinking Water

North Slope Borough is served by 8 water systems covering 8 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 6 recorded a detection, with a median of 1.60 ppb — 11% of the federal action level. 2 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

1 of 8 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 4 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Slope Borough tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in North Slope Borough has an open violation on record. 1 of 8 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in North Slope Borough?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 1.60 ppb, 11% of the 15 ppb action level. 2 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve North Slope Borough?▼
8 community water systems serve 8 communities here.
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