Drivers of Declining Water Access in Alaska

Abstract

A majority of homes in the United States (US) receive household water services via complete in-home plumbing. Observers tend to assume that in the US, there is an upward trend in plumbing access; yet in some Alaska communities, the rate is in fact a downward trend. This study seeks to identify, while considering the spatiotemporal variations in the region, the sociodemographic parameters that are correlated with the rates of in-home plumbing in Alaska communities. Equipped with American Community Survey data from 2011 to 2015, we employed a fixed-effects regression analysis. Our findings show that, concerning complete in-home plumbing, there was a statistically significant decrease in close to a quarter (23%) of census-designated places in Alaska. Access to complete plumbing is correlated to multiple sociodemographic characteristics, including the percentage of households that (1) receive social security, (2) are valued under $150,000, and (3) are renter-occupied units paying for one or more utilities. Our results help decision-makers efficiently allocate government funds by showing where service is deteriorating as well as the potential predictors of such decline. Our study reveals the pressing need to invest in not only new water systems but also maintenance, operations, and capital improvements.

A Stakeholder-Systems Analysis of Water Provision in Rural Alaska

“…Brown et al explore drivers of declining water access, identifying socioeconomic status as a significant barrier to water access in Alaska communities. 10 Other studies identify climate change and the resulting environmental impacts as barriers to reliable water provision. 27,44 One challenge is how to understand the preferences of untreated water.…”

“…These pipes can be damaged by vehicles, especially when covered by snowdrifts, requiring a great deal of knowledge, skills, and time from the water utility workforce to make repairs. Pipes can also be damaged by ground subsidence during freeze/thaw periods, an issue that is only further exacerbated by climate change. − Utility maintenance workers must regularly check and resecure pipes that have moved. Extreme temperatures necessitate the procurement of special materials and operations to prevent water within the distribution pipes and water treatment plants from freezing.…”

“…Adding to the environmental challenges, material and equipment needed for repairs and regular maintenance are not readily available or transportable in the rural Arctic. ,, When a replacement part is needed for a water pump, for instance, the likelihood that such a piece can be sourced from within the region, let alone in a timely manner, is low . Because communities in the YK Delta are not connected via a highway system, materials are often shipped via air from Anchorage, if the parts are small enough.…”

A Pilot Household Greywater Treatment and Reuse System Produces High-Quality Water under Simulated Household Illness Test Conditions

“…Rural Alaska is so sparsely populated and difficult to access from the nearest cities that many small communities are without access to improved water and sanitation even though the United States is considered to have 100% coverage. 43,44 In addition, many rural residents are part of low-income, minority, or indigenous groups and are historically underserved, making them vulnerable to adverse health impacts that often come alongside a lack of access to safe water and sanitation services. 18,45 Water and sanitation have been an ongoing priority for public and private organizations in Alaska for more than 50 years with varying progress and success; 24 however, traditional piped and pump-and-haul systems often fail in rural Alaska.…”

“…The average population density is 1.3 people per square mile; however, more than half of the state’s population lives in a single urban area (398 500 residents in the Anchorage/Mat-Su Economic Region), resulting in an extremely low population density in the rest of the state. Rural Alaska is so sparsely populated and difficult to access from the nearest cities that many small communities are without access to improved water and sanitation even though the United States is considered to have 100% coverage. , In addition, many rural residents are part of low-income, minority, or indigenous groups and are historically underserved, making them vulnerable to adverse health impacts that often come alongside a lack of access to safe water and sanitation services. , …”