Performance Details

Department of Environmental Conservation - Water Quality, Infrastructure Support & Financing

• Return to Departments
• Department of Environmental Conservation website

Mission

Protect water quality and assist communities in improving sanitation conditions.

Core Services

• Identify, abate, and control water pollution in a cost effective, accountable manner to protect public health and preserve the many uses of Alaska"s waters.
• Assist communities in providing sustainable water, sewer, and solid waste services in full regulatory compliance.

Mission Results	Core Services
A: Identify, abate, and control water pollution in a cost effective, accountable manner to protect public health and preserve the many uses of Alaska"s waters. Details >	A1: Identify, abate, and control water pollution in a cost effective, accountable manner to protect public health and preserve the many uses of Alaska"s waters. Details > TARGET #1: 90% of polluted waterbodies have active stewardship, protection plans, and restoration activities each year. TARGET #2: All Federal water dischargers managed by the State have current permits/authorizations. TARGET #3: All discharges through onsite wastewater systems to state waters are reviewed and authorized. TARGET #4: All inspected facilities have performed follow-up actions required by inspection reports.
Mission Results	Core Services
B: Assist communities in providing sustainable water, sewer, and solid waste services in full regulatory compliance. Details >	B1: Assist communities in providing sustainable water, sewer, and solid waste services in full regulatory compliance. Details > TARGET #1: 85% of regulated systems comply with drinking water supply system operator certification requirements. TARGET #2: All rural Alaska communities are served by safe and sustainable sanitation facilities.

Performance Detail

Target #1: 90% of polluted waterbodies have active stewardship, protection plans, and restoration activities each year. Methodology: Restoration plans may be developed by grantees who have received funds through the Alaska Clean Water Actions (ACWA) grant program, by contractors, by other state agencies, or by DEC personnel. The number of these projects is then divided by the number of total polluted waters as determined in the Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report to calculate the percentage of waters with active restoration plans. 2026 Integrated Report still draft, not included above. Analysis of results and challenges: Every two years, the Division of Water reports on the health of Alaska`s rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. The 2024 Integrated Report showed continued progress. Birch Creek and Little Survival Creek were removed from the impaired waters list, while Kuskokwim River and Red Devil Creek received new recovery plans for legacy mining impacts. Little Campbell Creek and Chester Creek in Anchorage were identified for additional work to address bacteria levels. The division also began updating data for 34 waterways still affected by the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill through a new Trustee Council grant. To support local action, the division awarded 11 new Alaska Clean Water Actions (ACWA) grants in 2025, funding projects that restore or protect community waters. Since 2001, the ACWA program has supported more than 350 projects statewide. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2025

Target #2: All Federal water dischargers managed by the State have current permits/authorizations. Methodology: Environmental Data Management System (EDMS) — Alaska managed permits only. For the purposes of this performance measure, administratively extended permits are not considered current. Federal Water Discharge Permits and Authorizations Fiscal Year Facilities Regulated Permitted/Authorized % Permitted/Authorized FY 2025 2358 2182 0 FY 2024 2329 1961 84 FY 2023 4709 4479 95 FY 2022 5193 4145 80 FY 2021 3888 2818 72% FY 2020 3,553 2,765 78% FY 2019 3,462 2,905 84% FY 2018 3,457 3,021 87% FY 2017 4,835 4,277 88% FY 2016 5,037 4,270 85% FY 2015 6,315 5,492 87% Analysis of results and challenges: Since Alaska took over wastewater permitting from the federal government in 2008, the division has made steady progress in keeping permits current and ensuring clean water protections. Wastewater discharge permits expire every five years under the Clean Water Act, but the division can extend them when they remain protective of human health and the environment. Balancing new permit applications with renewals and necessary modifications is an ongoing challenge, but the department has consistently maintained a higher percentage of current permits than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, averaging 91 percent over the past three years. Fluctuations in permit numbers are normal and often tied to seasonal or temporary activities such as construction and seafood processing. Recent improvements to the permit tracking database and data validation processes have strengthened accuracy and efficiency. Continued upgrades are expected to further streamline operations and sustain high permit issuance rates through FY2026. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2025

Target #3: All discharges through onsite wastewater systems to state waters are reviewed and authorized. Methodology: Data from 2015-2018 was generated using SEPTS (a decommissioned state database), data from 2019 to present was generated using financial records, data from 2023 was calculated from a mix of financial records and the Electronic Data Management System, 2024 data is collected from the Electronic Data Management System. This data is based on a calendar year and not fiscal year because the older data does not have the level of detail needed to separate it. State Regulated Onsite Wastewater Systems - Authorization/Approvals Year Authorizations Plan Review Approvals Column 3 Column 4 YTD Column 6 Column 7 2024 2283 495 0 0 0 0 0 2023 1286 325 0 0 0 0 0 2022 1739 316 0 0 0 0 0 2021 1938 332 0 0 0 0 0 2020 1871 320 0 0 0 0 0 2019 1873 403 0 0 0 0 0 2018 1715 391 0 0 0 0 0 2017 1771 424 0 0 0 0 0 2016 2150 505 0 0 0 0 0 2015 1915 493 0 0 0 0 0 Analysis of results and challenges: The division regulates onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems to ensure safe, environmentally protective installation and operation. Most small systems can be installed following standard construction rules, while larger or more complex systems require an engineering plan review. The number of systems installed each year varies with factors such as housing activity, economic conditions, and real estate transactions. Reporting can also fluctuate, especially as older systems are added to the new tracking database. The department supports homeowners and installers through outreach and training. In 2025, the division certified 169 installers including 116 who completed optional soils training to conduct percolation tests, helping ensure systems are designed and installed safely. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2025

Target #4: All inspected facilities have performed follow-up actions required by inspection reports. Methodology: DEC staff log inspection information into the Environmental Data Management System. The percentage is calculated from the actual number of APDES facilities that responded to the follow-up actions (schedules) created in EDMS in FY25, divided by the number of inspected APDES facilities where follow-up actions were required and assigned in FY25. Analysis of results and challenges: In FY2025, the division conducted 268 inspections of facilities under the Alaska Pollution Discharge Elimination System (APDES). Of those requiring follow-up, 89 percent of permittees completed at least some actions, while 11 percent remained outstanding. Only two facilities (about one percent) were referred to formal enforcement, which often involves additional steps beyond the permittee`s direct control, such as engineering reviews or municipal approvals. The Commercial Passenger Vessel (Cruise Ship) Program conducted 92 inspections across 71 vessels. All required follow-up actions were completed, with only one formal enforcement action ongoing from the previous year. These inspections ensure that permitted facilities operate safely and comply with environmental standards, protecting Alaska`s waters and communities. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2025

Target #1: 85% of regulated systems comply with drinking water supply system operator certification requirements. Methodology: The number of water supply systems that employ an operator certified at the correct level is divided by the total number of water supply systems that are subject to this requirement. Analysis of results and challenges: The division`s operator certification program ensures that drinking water systems are managed by qualified personnel, safeguarding public health. Operators are trained and tested based on the size and complexity of the systems they oversee. While the program also covers wastewater systems, this measure focuses on drinking water, which has the most direct impact on public health. Small private systems, such as individual wells, are not included. Through outreach, training, and exam availability, the percentage of systems with properly certified operators has remained above 80 percent for most of the past 15 years. The program has set a target of 85 percent compliance to ensure systems are safely operated and maintained. In FY2025, compliance improved slightly, reaching the highest rate since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges remain due to operator turnover, new systems coming online, and continuing education requirements. Ongoing initiatives and funding support from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) are helping systems meet certification standards. The program anticipates further increases in compliance as outreach and technical assistance continue, supporting safe and effective management of Alaska`s drinking water systems. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2025

Target #2: All rural Alaska communities are served by safe and sustainable sanitation facilities. Methodology: DEC staff tracks the number of served and unserved communities as well as those funded for construction. A community is considered served when 55 percent or more year-round occupied homes have running water via pipes, a closed haul system, or individual septic tanks and wells . Safe and Sustainable Sanitation Facilities in Rural Alaska Fiscal Year Served Communities Unserved Communities In Process YTD Total FY 2025 164 14 16 0 FY 2024 163 17 15 0 FY 2023 162 21 12 195 FY 2022 162 26 7 195 FY 2021 161 27 7 195 FY 2020 161 28 6 195 FY 2019 161 29 5 195 FY 2018 161 28 5 194 FY 2017 159 30 5 194 FY 2016 159 32 3 194 Analysis of results and challenges: The Village Safe Water (VSW) program continues its work to achieve the goal of providing in-home running water and sewer service to year-round occupied homes in rural Alaska communities. This service has historically been provided by centralized piped, closed haul systems, or individual septic tanks/wells. Since 2016, five previously unserved communities have received water and sewer service. Currently, 16 additional communities have funded projects in various stages of design and construction. Three communities are under construction with completion expected in 2025—2026, while the remaining 13 are in early planning stages with estimated completion between 2027 and 2033. Progress has been challenging due to rising construction costs, complex site conditions, and the need to maintain and upgrade existing systems. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides a major boost to these efforts, allocating $3.5 billion nationally to the Indian Health Service over five years to address sanitation deficiencies. Of that total, $2.1 billion is designated for rural Alaska. The Village Safe Water Program is responsible for delivering projects to about one-third of the affected communities. In partnership with the EPA, Denali Commission, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and VSW this funding has already supported ten projects delivering first-time service and is also funding upgrades to replace aging flush tank haul systems in five communities. However, updated cost estimates show that available funding will be strained due to inflation and rising material and transportation costs. The division will continue working with federal partners to prioritize projects and make the most of available resources, including an additional $67 million in Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grants. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2025

Last refreshed: 04/20/2026 05:00 pm