FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT JUNEAU'S WATER SYSTEM
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes! Juneau’s drinking water meets all the federal and state drinking water
standards.
Does my drinking water come from ground water or surface water?
In the Juneau area, it depends on where you live. For instance, the downtown
area out to the hospital and all of Douglas Island, is usually served by
groundwater from the Last Chance Basin aquifer. The area north of the hospital
is usually served by the surface water of Salmon Creek. The systems are combined
and classed as a Class A system
How does water get from the source to my house?
The water system is a gravity system.. There are pumps in some areas to serve the
higher elevations of the community which cannot be fed by gravity. That is because
they are at higher elevations than the source of water.
What do you do to treat the water before I receive it?
In Juneau, we have a very high quality, natural water product. We don't need to
treat the water with filtration or other techniques. Chlorine is added to the
water for sanitation purposes, fluoride is added to prevent dental caries (tooth
decay), and soda ash is added to Salmon Creek water to reduce its corrosiveness.
Why does the water look dirty sometimes?
Parts of the system are old. Rust or sediments may have accumulated over the years
and any changes in flow may disturb this material and cause discolored water.
Entrained air may also cause the water to be "milky".
Typical events that may cause temporary coloration of the water include:
- Fire in the area
- Breaks and repairs in the water main
- Construction of water mains
- Hydrant flushing and other maintenance work
This water is still safe to drink, despite the temporary coloration.
What should I do when the water is discolored?
Let the water run for 5 or 10 minutes. If the problem does not go away after an hour,
call the water utility.
What is a cross-connection?
A cross connection is a physical interconnection between the drinking water and
possible sources of contaminated water. In the home, typical cross-connections
may be from garden hoses, dishwashers, and heating systems.
Water meter information:
Why is my water bill is so high?
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