Unalakleet suffers from brown tap water

Last week, Unalakleet residents turned on their taps to find that their water was coming out brown. The coffee-colored water occurs when Unalakleet turns on the circulation pumps to keep the water from freezing, Mayor Kira Eckenweiler explained. “When the circulation pumps are moving the water, this picks up the corrosion and grime within the piping system and distributes it,” she said.

This has happened before, Eckenweiler said, and is due to the fact that Unalakleet’s water and sewer system is nearly 60 years old and needs to be fully replaced. Unalakleet gets its water from Power’s Creek, which is a few miles up the coast from the village. The water line extends from the creek to town along the ocean. But due to storms, this source has become unreliable and unstable, according to Eckenweiler.

The problem impacted residents who live in town, whom Eckenweiler said have been on a boil notice for quite some time. Some community members are reporting rashes from bathing in the water. Eckenwieler noted that clean and safe water—a basic necessity—is particularly vital now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The hardship on the young, elderly, and vulnerable population are particularly severe,” she said. “At a time in which Native Alaskan Communities are battling potential COVID-19 outbreaks, lack of fresh drinking water substantially heightens that risk as hand washing and sanitizing surfaces are primary means to prevent the spread.”

According to Eckenweiler, the City of Unalakleet is working with Representative Neal Foster, Senator Donny Olson, the Department of Environmental Conservation and Homeland Security and Emergency Management to find solutions for temporary fixes. Ultimately, a complete change-out of the water and sewer system will be necessary.

Unalakleet is currently working to secure funding to replace its system.