FAIRBANKS — The University of Alaska Fairbanks will switch from drinking water pumped from its own wells to water from a utility because of high levels of byproducts.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports carbon from organic material in UAF’s well water combined with added chlorine created disinfection byproducts that exceed federal limits.
Long-term exposure to the disinfection byproducts can increase cancer risk and create kidney, liver or central nervous system problems.
University employees in the past have used a filtration system to lower byproduct levels.
Vice Chancellor Scott Bell says the process is expensive and time consuming and the university decided to decommission its water treatment plant and switch to College Utilities.
Water from the utility could cost up to $500,000 more annually for a decade to cover construction costs.
