Anchorage
Anchorage, AK water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
moa municipality of anchorage
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID AK2210906
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Anchorage, AK is a large city, with a population near 298,695 and the largest community in Alaska. Like much of Alaska, Anchorage draws its water primarily from glacial melt, rivers, and groundwater.
Anchorage's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Alaska. Water is plentiful; the challenge is delivering safe water to remote and rural communities.
Anchorage sits in a state that reuses roughly 2% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences no meaningful drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Alaska state water profile and the related issues below.
Anchorage Municipality County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~298,695 (largest in Alaska)
- Primary sources: glacial melt, rivers, and groundwater
- Drought: no meaningful conditions
- State reuse rate: ~2% of wastewater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Anchorage?
Anchorage's largest water system, MOA MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE, serves about 221,351 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Anchorage get its water?
MOA MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Alaska's supply from glacial melt, rivers, groundwater.