Clear choices for clear waters: Understanding water quality

Have you ever filled a glass with water from your tap and wondered if it's safe to drink? Here in the Mat-Su, we're fortunate to have abundant water resources, but that doesn't mean we can take water quality for granted. Whether you get your water from a public system or a private well, understanding water quality is important for your family's health and our community's future.

Water quality simply means how clean and safe our water is for people, animals, and plants. In the Mat-Su, most residents get their water either from private wells or from smaller community water systems. Unlike many cities with large municipal water treatment plants, our water situation is more personal and requires us to be more involved.

Our rapid growth has led to more septic systems, which can affect groundwater if not properly maintained. Agricultural activities, mining operations, and even natural substances in our soil can all impact water quality. Climate change is also affecting our waterways with changing rainfall patterns and warming temperatures in our lakes and streams.

If you use a private well, you're responsible for testing your own water. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation recommends testing your well at least once a year for bacteria and nitrates, and every few years for other contaminants like arsenic. This is especially important because some areas have naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater. Testing is affordable and easy. You can get water testing kits from the borough environmental health office or from private labs in Wasilla or Palmer.

For those connected to a community water system, your water provider is required to test regularly and provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report. You can request this report directly from your water utility. It tells you where your water comes from and what's in it. If you live in an apartment or rental, ask your landlord for this information.

Beyond your home, the quality of our lakes, rivers and streams affects fishing, swimming, and the overall health of our ecosystem. The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership monitors many of our waterways, looking for issues that could harm fish populations. Groups like the Mat-Su Water Conservation Water Management Area, Wasilla Soil & Water Conservation District, and Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership also conduct regular testing at popular recreation spots.

If you're concerned about water quality, there are several steps you can take. First, get your water tested if you haven't recently. If you notice unusual taste, odor, or color in your water, don't ignore it. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service has guides on well maintenance.

To file a complaint about suspected water contamination, contact the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. For concerns about public water systems, call their Drinking Water Program at (907) 269-7656. For concerns about pollution in lakes, streams, or wetlands, contact their Water Quality Program at (907) 269-6283.

We all play a role in protecting our water. Simple actions make a difference: maintain your septic system with regular inspections and pumping; properly dispose of household chemicals, medications, and motor oil at the borough's hazardous waste collection events rather than pouring them down drains; reduce the use of lawn fertilizers, especially near waterways; and pick up pet waste, which can wash into streams and lakes.

Annual events like the Jim Creek Cleanup and Little Susitna River Classic Float provide direct ways to improve water quality. Removing trash from stream banks prevents pollution from entering our waterways, and these events build community awareness about protecting our water resources.

Until problems arise, people easily take clean water for granted. By understanding how our water systems work, testing regularly, and taking steps to prevent contamination, we can ensure that we continue to have safe, clean water for generations to come. Our individual actions, combined with community monitoring efforts, help keep our waters healthy for everyone.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.