Alternatives
Sanitation Levels of Service in Alaska
The first table below summarizes the four alternatives, the pros and cons, and the capital cost estimations for each alternative.
The graphic below depicts the five levels of service in Alaska, with Level 1 being the highest level of service.
Alternative 1: No Action
Continue hauling water from the water treatment plant (WTP) and emptying waste into the ocean. (~<5 gallons per capita day)
Pros
- Low cost to residents and utility
Cons
- No improvement to sanitation
- Raw sewage and trash bags and handled by resident and go into the ocean
- Level 5 services (lowest)
Cost
- No additional cost (current cost $90)
Alternative 2: Piped Water & Sewer Network
Above ground pipes to every building (~50 gallons per capita day)
Pros
- Level 1 services (highest)
- No hauling water
- No handling of wastewater
- More sanitary
- Improved sewage treatment to eliminate plastic bags in the ocean, as well as water quality around the island
- Enough water to operate in-home laundry
Cons
- Above ground piping will restrict community access and can be unsightly
- Requires indoor bathroom plumbing
- High monthly utility fees
- Homeowners are responsible for electric costs of the residential lift station and heat trace
- More mechanical parts to maintain and freeze potential
Cost
- Estimated user cost is $520.
Home System Components
- Gravity low-flow toilet
- Bathtub/ shower
- Kitchen sink
- Circulating water service pump
- Oil-fired water heater
This photo shows the above ground water and sewer system used in Bethel, Alaska.
Alternative 3: Satellite Stations with Delivery
Aboveground pipes to several central locations to which clusters of homes can connect to retractable hoses (~30 gallons per capita day)
Pros
- Level 3 services (improved)
- No hauling water
- No handling wastewater
- More sanitary
- Less obstacles than fully piped
- Improved sewage treatment to eliminate plastic bags in the ocean, as well as water quality around the island
Cons
- Above ground piping will create obstacles and can be unsightly
- Requires indoor bathroom plumbing
- High monthly utility fees
- Homeowners are responsible for electric costs of the residential lift station and heat trace
- More mechanical parts to maintain and freeze potential
- Continue to use washeteria for washing clothes.
Cost
- Estimated user cost is $610.
Home System Components
- Gravity low flow toilet
- Bathtub/ shower
- Kitchen sink
- Circulating water service pump
- Oil-fired water heater
- Residential lift station
- Sewage and water holding tanks
These photos show an example of retractable water and sewer hoses, similar to what the satellite alternative proposes. This example is from the Water Wagon in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Alternative 4: Piped Wastewater and Satellite Water Delivery
(~30 gallons per capita day)
Pros
- Level 3 services (improved)
- No hauling water
- No handling wastewater
- More sanitary
- Less obstacles than fully piped
- Improved sewage treatment to eliminate plastic bags in the ocean, as well as water quality around the island
Cons
- Above ground piping will create obstacles and can be unsightly
- Requires indoor bathroom plumbing
- High monthly utility fees
- Homeowners are responsible for electric costs of the residential lift station and heat trace
- More mechanical parts to maintain and freeze potential
- Continue to use washeteria for washing clothes
Cost
- Estimated user cost is $570.
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