Access to modern water service in rural Alaska: Assessment and discussion

The establishment of potable water service in US communities has greatly contributed to reduced morbidity and mortality from infectious diarrhea. A growing body of research highlights the importance of potable water services for the prevention of a host of other health outcomes. Some US residents still lack these basic services. This session begins with an overview of access to water and sanitation in the US, with a focus on rural Alaska Native villages. This information will be followed by a narrative of life without basic services. Next, a description of the physical, cultural and economic barriers to the provision and sustainability of modern water and sanitation infrastructure will be presented. The session will conclude with details of the Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative, a promising Alaskan pilot program focused on assisting tribal communities with provision of safe water and sanitation.