Iron in Alaska well water
In Alaska, iron was detected in 98% of 3,215 tested private well samples.
Iron is a nuisance rather than a health hazard: rust stains, metallic taste, and clogged fixtures above 300 ug/L. It often occurs with manganese and can feed iron bacteria that foul plumbing.
Check your iron number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Alaska well for iron
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
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Systems that remove iron
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Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For iron
Iron and manganese oxidizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,800
Air-injection or greensand media; fixes staining at the source.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for iron in Alaska: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit; counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenai Peninsula | no limit | 428 | 100% | 540 | 560,000 ug/L |
| Bethel | no limit | 122 | 100% | 1,000 | 80,000 ug/L |
| Bristol Bay | no limit | 59 | 100% | 110 | 2,200 ug/L |
| Yukon-Koyukuk | no limit | 126 | 100% | 705 | 30,000 ug/L |
| Fairbanks North Star | no limit | 746 | 100% | 3,200 | 130,000 ug/L |
| Copper River | no limit | 118 | 99% | 420 | 17,000 ug/L |
| Juneau | no limit | 70 | 99% | 235 | 19,400 ug/L |
| Anchorage | no limit | 1,069 | 97% | 120 | 760,000 ug/L |
| Yakutat | no limit | 42 | 95% | 95 | 3,100 ug/L |
| Matanuska-Susitna | no limit | 253 | 94% | 90 | 57,000 ug/L |
- Bristol Bay census subarea, Bristol Bay County100% detected of 59
- McGrath-Holy Cross census subarea, Yukon-Koyukuk County100% detected of 32
- Koyukuk-Middle Yukon census subarea, Yukon-Koyukuk County100% detected of 75
- Kenai-Cook Inlet census subarea, Kenai Peninsula County100% detected of 407
- Lower Kuskokwim census subarea, Bethel County100% detected of 112
- Fairbanks North Star census subarea, Fairbanks North Star County100% detected of 746
- Copper River census subarea, Copper River County99% detected of 118
- Juneau census subarea, Juneau County99% detected of 70
- Anchorage census subarea, Anchorage County97% detected of 1,069
- Yakutat census subarea, Yakutat County95% detected of 42
- Matanuska-Susitna census subarea, Matanuska-Susitna County94% detected of 253
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. iron counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.