Safe Drinking Water
State and federal laws leave it to the homeowner to ensure private water wells are safe to use. Inletkeeper helps citizens with private water ensure it is safe to drink.
Alaskans often approach Inletkeeper with a basic question: “Is my well water safe to drink?” Cook Inletkeeper’s Safe Drinking Water Program is motivated by a concern that private drinking water is not well regulated under state or federal law. While the federal Safe Drinking Water Act ensures that public drinking water supplies are routinely tested for potential contaminants, state and federal laws leave it to the homeowner to ensure private water wells are safe to use. Therefore, ensuring that your well water is safe to drink is up to you.The Safe Drinking Water Program hosts a booth at the Homer Rotary Health Fair each November. A group class is held following the Health Fair, and we coordinate discounted rates for well water testing. In 2011, we're also hosting a class in Cooper Landing (see our blog post for more details).
Throughout the year, you can contact Inletkeeper and learn:
- More about well water testing (including springs and cisterns);
- How to get your water tested, and pick up bottles to collect water samples; and,
- Local, state, and national resources to learn more about your water.
Contact Rachel, rachel@inletkeeper.org or 907.235.4068 x29, for more information and for help with water testing!
Project Goals
Through its Safe Drinking Water Program, Inletkeeper works towards the following goals:
- Educate Alaskans about the potential contaminants and health risks associated with some private drinking water sources;
- Provide information and discounts for private drinking water testing through a partnership with Analytica Group, a water testing laboratory certified by the State of Alaska;
- Assist private well owners with interpreting water test results and finding local and state resources for treatment options of contaminated water; and
- Encourage Alaskans to take responsibility for long-term maintenance and testing of private drinking water sources.
