Many Hillside Homes Do Not Have Access to Municipal Water & Sewer Service

AWWU provides service to nearly 50,000 residences throughout the Municipality, including portions of the lower Hillside. However, nearly 7,000 residential lots in southeast Anchorage are without Municipal water and sewer service. Most of these lots are larger than one acre and make use of on-site wells for drinking water, and septic systems for discharging wastewater below the ground surface.

The Municipal Community Development Department administers permitting for on-site wells and septic systems. Some homes, schools, and churches on the Hillside are served by small community water and/or wastewater systems which are not part of the Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility service area. These systems are permitted by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Internet links provided below.

Water & Wastewater Services on the Hillside are Limited by Municipal Code

The Anchorage Assembly established a fixed boundary for the furthest extent of Municipal water and sewer service for southeast Anchorage, with the approval of the Hillside District Plan in 2010. Extensions of Municipal water and sewer mains outside of the defined service area boundary must be approved by the Anchorage Assembly, as well as the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

Areas Served with Municipal Water Have Better Access to Water For Firefighting

The Utility water distribution network is designed to provide water for firefighting. Utility crews also maintain fire hydrants throughout the Municipality. In those parts of the Hillside area where there is no Municipal service, water for firefighting is largely dependent on mobilizing tanker trucks to transport water.

For more information:

AWWU Customer Service - 564-2700, or CustomerService@awwu.biz

• Municipality of Anchorage On-Site Water and Wastewater Program 
• State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation On-site plan review program