Private Well/Drinking Water
In the state of Alaska, only the Municipality of Anchorage and the City of North Pole have local
regulations for private water well activity. It is the responsibility of private well owners outside these two communities to monitor the water quality of their wells. The Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation Division of Environmental Health has developed best management
practices that include regular water testing and proper construction practices. It should be noted that the Division of Environmental Health has set distance requirements between a private well and onsite disposal systems and/or other possible sources of contamination. While the state of Alaska does not regulate private wells, the Division of Environmental Health does regulate community water systems, non-transient non-community water systems and transient noncommunity water systems. Owners of such systems must obtain proper approvals from Division of Environmental Health to construct, install, alter, renovate or operate a public water system or any part of one of the systems mentioned.
The following links are provided to help FEMA grant applicants understand and comply with state
and local regulations and best management practices.
Private well permitting requirements within the Municipality of Anchorage:
http://www.muni.org/Departments/OCPD/development/onsite/Documents/Well%20Permit%
20Requirements_041118.pdf
For additional information regarding Water and Wastewater System Codes within the
Municipality of Anchorage:
http://www.muni.org/Departments/OCPD/development/onsite/Pages/
WaterWastewaterSystemsCode.aspx
For additional information related to Private Drinking Water Wells & Systems including Best Management Practices:
For areas outside the Municipality of Anchorage:
http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/dwp/private-wells/
For areas within the Municipality of Anchorage:
http://www.muni.org/Departments/OCPD/development/onsite/Documents
For additional information regarding other drinking water systems within Alaska:
http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/engineering.aspx#nogo
Information concerning water rights in Alaska:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/water/wrfact.cfm
Septic Systems
Onsite disposal systems, or septic systems, are common in Alaska. Proper installation and care of these onsite systems by homeowners and contractors are essential to maintaining the health of the system, public health and Alaska's environment. In areas where site conditions are unsuitable for a conventional onsite disposal system, property owners may need to have an alternate system designed. Residents living in Anchorage have additional permitting requirements. Above all, the best course of action is to hire a certified installer for any repairs or upgrades to damaged systems.
For additional information on permits for the installation or repair of an onsite disposal
system: https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/engineering
For additional requirements on permits for onsite disposal systems in the Municipality of
Anchorage: https://www.muni.org/Departments/OCPD/development/onsite/Pages/
WastewaterPermitRequirements.aspx