States ›Alaska ›Northwest Arctic Borough ›Kotzebue

Kotzebue, AK Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Kotzebue, AK — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Kotzebue's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Kotzebue Mun. Water System PWSID: AK2340060 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 7.50 ppb, 50% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS has never been sampled at this system.

D

Kotzebue earns a D for water quality

Graded on violations and lead, with state inspection findings. PFAS not tested.

Lead: 7.50 ppb — 50% of the federal action level
PFAS never sampled at this system
79 violations since 2015, 75 health-based
No violations currently open
Kotzebue's lead level vs. all Alaska community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 7.50 ppb — 50% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 9% of Alaska utilities
Population Served
~777 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
79 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
50% of EPA action level
7.50 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
Copper (Cu)
90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.
107.7% of EPA action level
1,400 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 7.50 ppb, 50% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.104 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2026 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.078 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2026 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.114 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2025 Archived
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2025 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2025 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.125 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2025 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.085 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2025 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.104 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2025 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.068 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2025 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.148 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2025 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.065 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2025 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.121 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.088 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2024 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.11 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.071 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2024 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.073 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2024 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.111 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.1 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.072 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2024 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.083 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2023 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.063 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2023 Archived
Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2023 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.085 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2023 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.063 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2023 Archived
Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2023 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2023 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2023 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.094 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2023 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.069 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2023 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.1 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2023 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.125 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.076 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2022 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.126 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.08 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.082 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2022 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.109 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.083 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2022 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.097 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.086 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2021 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.072 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.066 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2021 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.091 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2021 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.099 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2021 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.065 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2021 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.088 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2021 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.073 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.103 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.084 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.112 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.099 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.124 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.099 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.124 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.088 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2019 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.111 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2019 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.084 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2019 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.115 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2019 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.067 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2019 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.096 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2019 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.068 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2019 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.069 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2018 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2018 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.062 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2018 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.065 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2018 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.064 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2018 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.068 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.07 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.067 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.073 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.069 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2016 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.068 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2016 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.069 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2016 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.066 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2016 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.075 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2015 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.072 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2015 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.083 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2015 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.072 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2015 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.07 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2015 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

79 violations are on record since 2015, of which 75 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Kotzebue Mun. Water System
PWSID AK2340060
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served
Service connections 777
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kotzebue tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 7.50 ppb, 50% of the action level.
Does Kotzebue water have PFAS? ▼
This system has never been sampled for PFAS. EPA's national monitoring covered systems serving 3,300 people or more, so no results exist — which is not evidence that none is present.
Who supplies water to Kotzebue? ▼
Kotzebue Mun. Water System (PWSID AK2340060). Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-11-21. Inspectors recorded 4 significant deficiencies.

What Should Kotzebue Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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