Are the drinking water and surface water safe?
© Environmental Protection AgencyTo date, there is minimal to no risk of water contamination.
Radioactive material was released into the nearby ocean water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor in 2011. While the release has been managed to a certain extent, there have been additional leaks since the initial release. Fortunately, due to the enormous volume of the Pacific Ocean, the radioactive material was rapidly diluted to concentraions that do not pose a human health risk.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Water requires testing of community water systems for radioactive material on a regular basis. Information about particular water systems are available at DEC's Drinking Water Watch database here.
The Alaska Division of Public Health tested ocean water from Montague Island, Kodiak, and Craig in 2012, and found no radiation levels that would pose a health risk to humans or animals.
Moreover, approximartely 40 days after the event the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility tested water from Eklutna Lake before and after treatment for utility and found no radioactive material concentrations that would pose a health risk to humans or animals.
Further, EPA has been monitoring drinking water for radiation at three locations in Alaska since 1979 (see data here: Alaska RadNet). The results from this testing through December 2012 have shown no radiation levels that would be expected to present a health risk to humans or animals. EPA continues to monitor drinking water for radiation and share their monitoring data with the public.
