Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
golden heart utilities
groundwater (wells) · private · PWSID AK2310730
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Fairbanks, AK is a small but growing city, with a population near 32,325 and the 3rd-largest community in Alaska. Like much of Alaska, Fairbanks draws its water primarily from glacial melt, rivers, and groundwater.
Fairbanks'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.
Fairbanks 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.
Fairbanks North Star Borough County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~32,325 (3rd-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 Fairbanks?
Fairbanks's largest water system, GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES, serves about 78,324 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 2.4 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Fairbanks get its water?
GOLDEN HEART UTILITIES draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Alaska's supply from glacial melt, rivers, groundwater.