Talkeetna’s water supply meets or exceeds the state and federal guidelines for drinking water, according to the 2022 Consumer Confidence Report for Talkeetna’s Public Water System.
The water supply from Talkeetna’s two wells slightly exceeds the safe drinking water standards for arsenic. Arsenic is naturally occurring in many water sources throughout Alaska. In 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency lowered the acceptable level for arsenic from 50 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion. The arsenic in Talkeetna’s water is at about 11 parts per billion. To meet the new standards, the water is pumped to an arsenic treatment station.
Located in the downtown area, the wellheads are cased and are located above the floodplain level to prevent contamination during flooding. There are multiple potential contaminants, such as underground storage tanks, a pit toilet, a gasoline station, sewer lines, and other man-made sources. Amanda Fleming, Borough Utilities and Facilities Operational Supervisor for Talkeetna says a forthcoming source water protection plan will help address these issues.
Fleming notes that Talkeetna received the water system excellence award through the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for the last three years. The award is another way of helping consumers feel confident that their water supply is meeting water system compliance and ensuring there is a qualified operator on site.
The Consumer Confidence Report is available on the Mat-Su Borough website.
