We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Alaska to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Anchorage water report →Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fairbanks water report →Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Wasilla water report →Teller, Alaska
Teller has 10 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Teller water report →Kenai, Alaska
Kenai has 10 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 14 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Kenai water report →Gambell, Alaska
Gambell has 10 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 13 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Gambell water report →Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
Prudhoe Bay has 10 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 12 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Prudhoe Bay water report →Shaktoolik, Alaska
Shaktoolik has 10 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 12 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Shaktoolik water report →Palmer, Alaska
Palmer has 10 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Palmer water report →Soldotna, Alaska
Soldotna has 10 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Soldotna water report →Little Diomede, Alaska
Little Diomede has 10 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Little Diomede water report →Juneau, Alaska
Juneau has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 14 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Juneau water report →Sitka, Alaska
Sitka has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 14 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Sitka water report →Homer, Alaska
Homer has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 14 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Homer water report →Jber, Alaska
Jber has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 14 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Jber water report →Hooper Bay, Alaska
Hooper Bay has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 12 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Hooper Bay water report →Deering, Alaska
Deering has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 12 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Deering water report →Akhiok, Alaska
Akhiok has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Akhiok water report →Gulkana, Alaska
Gulkana has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Gulkana water report →Stebbins, Alaska
Stebbins has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Stebbins water report →St. Michael, Alaska
St. Michael has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full St. Michael water report →Kotzebue, Alaska
Kotzebue has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Kotzebue water report →Savoonga, Alaska
Savoonga has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 11 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Savoonga water report →Sandpoint, Alaska
Sandpoint has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 10 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Sandpoint water report →Karluk, Alaska
Karluk has 9 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 10 total detected, placing it among the most concerning water supplies analyzed.
See full Karluk water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 244 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 6 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 238 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage | AK | 25 | 13 | 0 | 221,351 |
| 2 | Fairbanks | AK | 21 | 13 | 0 | 32,324 |
| 3 | Wasilla | AK | 22 | 12 | 0 | 8,193 |
| 4 | Teller | AK | 19 | 10 | 0 | 275 |
| 5 | Kenai | AK | 14 | 10 | 0 | 5,200 |
| 6 | Gambell | AK | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Prudhoe Bay | AK | 12 | 10 | 0 | 831 |
| 8 | Shaktoolik | AK | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Palmer | AK | 11 | 10 | 0 | 5,961 |
| 10 | Soldotna | AK | 11 | 10 | 0 | 3,807 |
| 11 | Little Diomede | AK | 11 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| 12 | Juneau | AK | 14 | 9 | 0 | 33,026 |
| 13 | Sitka | AK | 14 | 9 | 0 | 8,748 |
| 14 | Homer | AK | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5,508 |
| 15 | Jber | AK | 14 | 9 | 0 | 4,872 |
| 16 | Hooper Bay | AK | 12 | 9 | 0 | 1,200 |
| 17 | Deering | AK | 12 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Akhiok | AK | 11 | 9 | 0 | 90 |
| 19 | Gulkana | AK | 11 | 9 | 1 | 83 |
| 20 | Stebbins | AK | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | St. Michael | AK | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Kotzebue | AK | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | Savoonga | AK | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Sandpoint | AK | 10 | 9 | 0 | 530 |
| 25 | Karluk | AK | 10 | 9 | 0 | 42 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Alaska?
Based on 2026 data, Anchorage, AK has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
