Water, Water Everywhere. But Not A Drop To Drink

 

Rural Alaska: Hauling Drinking Water From A Local Pump House 

COUNTRY JOURNAL ARCHIVES

For A Place With So Many Rivers, Getting Drinking Water In Alaska Is Not Easy 

Water hauling is a huge problem in rural Alaska. It doesn't matter where you live; many people don't have running water. This is true even in the city of Fairbanks, where "dry" (i.e. waterless) cabins are rented out to college students who are going to school at the nearby University of Alaska.

McCarthy, Alaska  "community drinking water" sign.

In many parts of the state along the road system, entrepreneurs set up small pump houses over their wells, and charge by the gallon, with coin-operated timers. The simplest system is to load 5-gallon jugs. This large plastic container is especially designed for hauling water. It fits into the back of a pickup, and is made so the water won't splash out when it's transported back home. On arriving home, the water is pumped back out of the container and into another container, inside the warm house.

"Coin-op" water pump in Gakona, Alaska.

Hauling water is an arduous task, often done in the middle of the night, at temperatures that can go down to 50 below zero.

Pump house in Eagle, Alaska.

Water is precious in Alaska.

Winter water hauling in Kenny Lake, Alaska. (Photo: Neil Hannan)

Water sign at Clear, Alaska lodge.