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Community Water System · PWS AK2293205

Cordova City Water

Cordova, Alaska 99574 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 2,700 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

2,700
People served
446
EPA violations
3
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 446 drinking-water violations at Cordova City Water, 1% of them health-based - above the Alaska per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

446
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
2,700
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Cordova City Water

Cordova City Water is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 2,700 residents in Cordova, Alaska (Valdez-Cordova Census Area County) through 872 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 446 total violations for this system , of which 3 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 308 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Nitrate, recorded in 18 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 37.1 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Alaska, EPA tracks 1,326 public water systems serving 862,218 people, with 267,144 cumulative violations and 13,963 health-based violations on record. About 98% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 201.5 violations. Statewide, 10 of 30 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (33.3%).

Cordova City Water's 446 violations sit above the Alaska average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
2,700
Total Violations
446
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
872
County
Valdez-Cordova Census Area
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
2
Monitoring Violations
308
Treatment Tech Violations
1

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Nitrate MR 18 1999
Fluoride MR 11 1992
Ethylbenzene MR 9 1995
Tetrachloroethylene MR 9 1995
Toluene MR 9 1995
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 9 1995
Styrene MR 9 1995
CHLOROBENZENE MR 9 1995
Benzene MR 9 1995
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 9 1995
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 9 1995
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 9 1995
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 9 1995
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 9 1995
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 9 1995
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 9 1995
Carbon tetrachloride MR 9 1995
Trichloroethylene MR 9 1995
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 8 2000
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 7 1995
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 6 2015
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 6 2022
BHC-GAMMA MR 5 1989
2,4,5-TP MR 5 1989
Methoxychlor MR 5 1989
2,4-D MR 5 1989
Arsenic MR 5 1991
Barium MR 5 1991
Cadmium MR 5 1991
Mercury MR 5 1991

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 315 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFOS 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/10/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/10/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/10/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/10/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/10/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/10/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/10/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/10/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Cordova City Water.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID AK2293205 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Alaska Drinking Water Authority

Alaska's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find AK regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2022 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 6 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 0200
2022 Chlorine MR 3 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 0999
2022 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 2 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 0300
2022 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 2 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 8000
2015 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 6 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 7000
2015 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 3100
2015 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 1 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 2456
2014 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 1 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 0200
2005 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 2 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 2456
2000 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 8 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 2964
1999 Nitrate MR 18 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 1040
1997 Nickel MR 5 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 1036
1997 CYANIDE MR 5 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 1024
1997 Beryllium, Total MR 5 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 1075
1997 Thallium, Total MR 5 SDWIS / AK2293205 / 1085

How Cordova City Water Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Cordova City Water Alaska avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 446 201.5 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 10.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 33.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 2,700 650 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,326 regulated public water systems in Alaska.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cordova City Water water safe to drink?
Cordova City Water (PWS ID: AK2293205) has 446 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 2,700 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Cordova City Water serve?
Cordova City Water serves 2,700 people in Cordova, Alaska. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 872 service connections.
What type of violations does Cordova City Water have?
Cordova City Water has 446 total violations: 3 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 308 monitoring/reporting violations, and 1 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Cordova City Water water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Cordova City Water's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Cordova City Water use?
Cordova City Water uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.