Dillingham water main extension to airport area clears environmental review

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has approved a $1.4 million project to extend Dillingham's municipal water system to homes and businesses near the airport affected by contaminated groundwater.

The state agency determined the Phase I design and permitting work qualifies for a categorical exclusion, exempting it from further environmental review and clearing the way for planning to begin. The extension will provide safe drinking water to properties where wells have tested positive for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, linked to decades of firefighting foam use at airport operations.

PFAS contamination near Dillingham Airport first came to light in 2019 when a well at Holy Rosary Church tested positive for the chemicals, which have been linked to health risks including low birth weight and thyroid disease. The state and city established a temporary water source at the Senior Center for affected residents.

The funded work includes planning and design for a new waterline to the airport, service connections for nearby properties, and a storage tank and pumphouse to support future system expansion. Geotechnical soil borings will be drilled 15 to 30 feet deep along the proposed route, with one boring at the tank site extending to 100 feet.

The project is funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan program. The department determined the work will not significantly affect treatment capacity, cultural resources, endangered species habitat, or environmental quality.