Alaska DEC Approves Limited Alternative to Filtration for Ketchikan Public Utilities

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2026
Contact: Sam Dapcevich, 907-465-5009

Decision protects drinking water and avoids an estimated $70 million filtration project

Juneau, Alaska — The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, with concurrence from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has approved a Limited Alternative to Filtration (LAF) for Ketchikan Public Utilities (KPU).

The approval fulfills the requirements of a May 2021 Compliance Order by Consent and allows KPU to continue providing safe, high-quality drinking water without constructing an estimated $70 million filtration plant.

"This decision shows that strong public health protection and practical, locally appropriate solutions can go hand in hand," Alaska DEC Commissioner Randy Bates said. "Through years of collaboration, DEC, EPA, KPU and community leaders reached a sound, science-based solution that keeps Ketchikan's drinking water safe while avoiding significant costs for local ratepayers."

The case-specific approval provides an alternative to a federal filtration requirement triggered by a 2019 weather event. DEC determined that KPU’s protected watershed and multi-barrier treatment system, which incorporates multiple disinfection processes, provide a level of public health protection that exceeds federal baselines.

Ketchikan's water comes from one of the most pristine and strictly controlled source water environments in the United States. KPU’s watershed controls are among the strictest in the nation and exceed those used by some other major public water systems, including Seattle, that operate under similar filtration alternatives.

"We're pleased to concur with Alaska DEC's allowance of a limited alternative to filtration for Ketchikan Public Utilities, a great example of Administrator Zeldin’s commitment to cooperative federalism," EPA Region 10 Deputy Regional Administrator Calvin J. Terada said. "DEC's limited alternative to filtration regulations, developed with public participation, will ensure that Ketchikan Public Utilities complies with the Safe Drinking Water Act by providing clean, safe drinking water to its customers through exceptional source water protection instead of building a costly filtration plant."

Ketchikan Mayor Bob Sivertsen called the approval an exceptional achievement for the community.

"This is only the second LAF ever granted to a public water utility, making this a truly exceptional achievement," Sivertsen said. "By earning this approval, KPU has avoided the need to construct an estimated $70 million water filtration plant, saving the citizens of Ketchikan millions of dollars while continuing to provide safe, high-quality drinking water."

The approval reflects more than six years of work among KPU, DEC, EPA and other partners to develop a solution that protects public health while avoiding substantial costs for Ketchikan ratepayers.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.