WaterVerge

Is Trapper Creek, AK Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A-, with 1 unresolved violation on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

500 residents served 1 water system PWSID: AK2220495
Overall Score
89 / 100
Violations
1 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#3 of 79 in Alaska Top 20% nationally
Private
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
89/100
waterverge.com
A- 89/100

Trapper Creek, AK — Water Quality Report

Trapper Creek's drinking water received a grade of A- (89 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 500 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 2 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Trapper Creek's water

Trapper Creek ranks #3 out of 79 cities in Alaska for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state.

Trapper Creek relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Trapper Creek may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
89 out of 100 Grade A-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
3/10
F
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Trapper Creek, AK water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Trapper Creek's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (89/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 500 residents using groundwater (wells).

1
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Trapper Creek

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Trapper Creek's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (89/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Nickel.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Trapper Creek's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Trapper Creek's water system has 2 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remain unresolved. 1 violation was issued in the last 5 years.

MR
Most recent violations:
Jan 2023 Nickel Resolved

Where does Trapper Creek's water come from?

Trapper Creek's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 500 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Trapper Creek residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

2
Total violations
0
Health-based
1
Active / unresolved
Jan 2023
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

2 Total
1 Active
0 Health-based
1 Resolved
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jan 2023 Resolved
Nickel
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 0.4 ppb from 2021 (0.4 ppb) to 2024 (0.0 ppb).
Contaminant Rankings

See how Trapper Creek compares by contaminant

Explore where Trapper Creek ranks among all Alaska cities for specific contaminants.

Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Private
Population Served
500
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Trapper Creek's water comes from

Groundwater

Trapper Creek's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 500 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Trapper Creek

System Name PWSID Population Source
TRAPPER CREEK WATERING POINT AK2220495 500 GW
Regional Comparison

How Trapper Creek compares

Full Alaska rankings →

Trapper Creek's score of 89/100 is above the average of 61/100 among major Alaska cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

Trapper Creek (this city)
89
Anchorage
38.5
Fairbanks
38.4
Juneau
65.4
Wasilla
42.5
Alaska avg
61
City Profile

About Trapper Creek, AK

Wikipedia →

Trapper Creek is a census-designated place (CDP) in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Area and is known as the southern gateway to Denali State Park. According to the 2020 census the population of Trapper Creek was 499.

Economic Profile
$51,071
Median Income
$191,604
Median Home Value
8.5%
Unemployment
Community
63.4
Median Age
0
People / sq mi
23.9%
College Educated
97.2%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Trapper Creek, AK tap water safe to drink?

Trapper Creek's water quality earned a grade of A- (89/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #3 out of 79 cities tested in Alaska.

What contaminants are in Trapper Creek's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 2 violations are on record.

How is Trapper Creek's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Trapper Creek?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Trapper Creek's water come from?

Trapper Creek's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 500 residents.

Is Trapper Creek's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Trapper Creek uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 2 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Trapper Creek's water compare to other cities?

Trapper Creek ranks #3 out of 79 cities in Alaska (better than 96% of state cities) and #3145 out of 15744 cities nationally (80th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Trapper Creek's small water system affect quality?

Trapper Creek's system serves approximately 500 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 2 violations on record.