Loading water data...
Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES • Updated September 2026
Grade A — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES has a clean recent record: no health-based violations in the last five years and no lead, PFAS or historical monitoring result that costs it more than a few points.
Yes — by EPA's records, Ketchikan's tap water earns a A: no health-based violations in five years, lead at 2.5 ppb (90th percentile) and no PFAS detected. Lead from home plumbing is the main remaining risk.
By EPA's records, yes. KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES earns a A: no health-based violations in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 2.5 ppb, and no PFAS detected in UCMR5 sampling. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 2.5 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES (2025-02-05 to 2025-12-16) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES has 4 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 8,937 people (EPA PWSID AK2120232).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles disinfection byproducts and improves taste.
Want to know what's really in your Ketchikan tap water?
Disinfection byproducts (TTHM/HAA5) averaged above 80% of the EPA limit in Ketchikan's 2012–2019 monitoring.
Tap Score certified lab · Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-07
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. Older health-based violations (since 2016) are listed below for context.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2016-10-01 → 2016-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2016-12-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2016-07-01 → 2016-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2016-09-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2016-01-01 → 2016-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2016-03-31 |
| Failure Submit IDSE/Subpart V Plan RptTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring & reporting | 2016-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2016-07-22 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31), 90% of the homes KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES sampled had lead at or below 2.5 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 3.3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2016-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 4.8 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2014-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 8.14 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2013-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | 8.14 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 2.74 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2007-01-01 → 2009-12-31 | 6.8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2004-01-01 → 2006-12-31 | 42.7 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2001-01-01 → 2003-12-31 | 11 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2000-01-01 → 2000-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1999-01-01 → 1999-12-31 | 12 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1998-07-01 → 1998-12-31 | 8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2025-02-05 to 2025-12-16 · 116 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 4 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 4 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 4 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic acids (HAA5) are flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 10 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 10 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N) | 20 detects | 0 mg/L | ND | 10 mg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Radium-226/228 | 10 detects | 0 pCi/L | ND | 5 pCi/LMCL | Not detected |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 75 | 48.801 µg/L | 114 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 5 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 74 | 74.853 µg/L | 186 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Average above MCL |
| Lead (tap samples) | 6051 detects | 2.783 µg/L | 30.5 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 60 | 139.478 µg/L | 440 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES · 2,784 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 100% of its 2,784 lines as non-lead. Lead can still come from pre-1986 plumbing and fixtures inside a home.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID AK2120232 · See all Alaska lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Ketchikan homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Ketchikan faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Ketchikan households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Ketchikan ranks #4 of 10 graded Alaska cities.
By EPA's records, yes. KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES earns a A: no health-based violations in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 2.5 ppb, and no PFAS detected in UCMR5 sampling. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 2.5 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES (2025-02-05 to 2025-12-16) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES has 4 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
KETCHIKAN PUBLIC UTILITIES reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 8,937 people (EPA PWSID AK2120232).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles disinfection byproducts and improves taste.
Disinfection byproducts (TTHM/HAA5) averaged above 80% of the EPA limit in Ketchikan's 2012–2019 monitoring.
Best for Chlorine, Taste & Odor
Filters rated for chlorine, taste & odor
Waterdrop chlorine, taste & odor collection · direct from the manufacturer
Waterdrop's chlorine, taste & odor collection — carbon filters made for exactly the disinfectant byproducts flagged above.
Shop Chlorine & Taste Filters →Or a specific pick on Amazon
Waterdrop Under-Sink Filter
NSF 42 certified carbon removes chlorine taste & odor — connects to your faucet line in minutes.
Check Price on Amazon →Not sure what filter you need?
Test your tap water first, so you filter for what's actually in it.
Shop Home Water Test Kits →We may earn a commission from Amazon and Waterdrop when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Find the right filter for your Ketchikan water quality needs:
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.