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Tap water quality report

Barrow, AK

EPA monitoring detected 20 contaminants across the 2 water suppliers serving Barrow. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — see the level at the main supplier for each below, with its EPA source and period.

2
water suppliers
5,538
people served
20
contaminants found
Alaska rankings Lead in Alaska PFAS in Alaska

What was found in Barrow's water

The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.

ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitSuppliersSource
Nitrate-Nitrite
280 µg/L 2.8%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2016
1/2 SYR4
Copper
65.75 µg/L 5.1%
of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
1/2 SYR4
TTHM
9.98 µg/L 12%
of the EPA limit 80 µg/L
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Xylenes, Total
8.56 µg/L 0.1%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
1/2 SYR4
Bromodichloromethane
3.205 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.41 µg/L — THE WATER SERVICE · 638 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Dibromochloromethane
3.25 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Chloroform
2.88 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
2.64 µg/L 4.4%
of the EPA limit 60 µg/L
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Lead
2.615 µg/L 17%
of the EPA limit 15 µg/L
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
1/2 SYR4
Bromoform
1.8 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid
1.685 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid
1.66 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Ethylbenzene
1.31 µg/L 0.2%
of the EPA limit 700 µg/L
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2019
1/2 SYR4
PFOS
0.0463 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2024
1/2 UCMR-5
PFHXS
0.0185 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2024
1/2 UCMR-5
Pfba
0.0115 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2024
1/2 UCMR-5
Pfhxa
0.0081 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2024
1/2 UCMR-5
Pfpea
0.0060 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2024
1/2 UCMR-5
Pfhpa
0.0039 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2024
1/2 UCMR-5
Lead
0.0 mg/L 0%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
Main supplier: BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU · 4,900 people · 2026
1/2 LCR
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Barrow

SupplierPopulation served
BARROW UTILITIES & ELEC. COOP., INC. (BU 4,900
THE WATER SERVICE 638

Frequently asked questions about Barrow tap water

Is Barrow tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Barrow. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.

How many water suppliers serve Barrow?

2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Barrow, Alaska to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Barrow's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Barrow include Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, TTHM, Xylenes, Total, Bromodichloromethane. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.