Barium in Alaska Drinking Water
Alaska has 3,661 public water systems. 3122 have recorded barium violations.
Total Systems
3,661
With Violations
3,122
EPA MCL
2
Population Served
855K
Barium in Alaska: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
3,661
Systems with Violations
3,122
Lead Violations
47
Copper Violations
250
EPA Standard
2 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 2 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in Alaska
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| AKHIOK | 90 | 3426 |
| DIOMEDE JOINT UTILITIES | 83 | 3125 |
| TUNUNAK WATER SYSTEM | 20 | 2745 |
| NEWTOK WATER SYSTEM | 435 | 2739 |
| NATIVE VILLAGE OF SLEETMUTE | 82 | 2494 |
| ALAKANUK WATER SYSTEM | 570 | 2344 |
| BEAR CREEK RV PARK | 19 | 2204 |
| GRAYLING WATER SYSTEM | 207 | 2201 |
Health Effects of Barium Exposure
Blood pressure increase
Even near-MCL levels can raise blood pressure
Cardiac effects
Long-term high exposure linked to heart arrhythmias
GI and muscle effects
Can cause nausea, muscle weakness, and paralysis at very high levels
Increase in blood pressure at levels above the MCL. Long-term exposure can affect the cardiovascular system and kidneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there barium in Alaska water?
Alaska has 3,661 public water systems. 3122 have recorded barium violations based on EPA SDWIS data. If you are on a private well, your water is not covered by these regulations and should be tested independently.
How can I check my Alaska water for barium?
Search for your water system using the WaterCheck system lookup, or contact your utility and request a copy of your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR is published annually and lists all detected contaminants, their levels, and the EPA MCLs. For private wells, contact a state-certified lab for independent testing.
What is the EPA limit for barium?
The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for barium is 2 mg/L. Systems that exceed MCLs are required to notify customers and take corrective action.
Barium at a Glance
Source
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits
How to Filter Barium
- +Reverse osmosis and ion exchange systems remove barium
- +Distillation is also effective
- +NSF/ANSI 58 certified RO systems are the most reliable option