Rural Alaska

Water running low in Unalakleet after pipe break

The city of Unalakleet's water situation is deteriorating, a city official said Friday.

The water tank in the community of 700 dropped below 4 feet, which means all Unalakleet residents are on a boil-water notice, said City Manager Davita Hansen. A remote maintenance worker from Nome and Unalakleet staff were using an excavator to dig in one of two locations where they suspect the water leak might be late last week.

If the source of the water leak is not found soon, Unalakleet may run out of water completely. Hansen says that if the tank dries up, the city's back-up plan is to pump water out of a point in the slough near the community where there is less brackish or salt water present.

Currently, the city is doing all they can to fix this significant water issue. Other outside entities and state departments have not provided Unalakleet assistance at this time, she said.

ADVERTISEMENT