Unalaska, AK – The city of Unalaska released a water quality report this month that provides detail on potential contaminants. The water was deemed safe in most categories. None of the 20 homes tested were affected by lead or copper contamination. The number of trihalomethanes and Halo acetic acids, which can cause cancer, were also well below safe levels.

"We've got unusually clean water" says Clint Huling, the Water Division Supervisor. "About the only thing we ever have any problem with is that storms can occasionally cause a mudslide which leads to dirt in the water, causing some turbidity."

Turbidity - the appearance of haziness in water - doesn't pose any health risk. However, there were two parts of the report that might raise eyebrows. The city detected a small amount of cryptosporidium in the water: a microbial contaminate that can cause abdominal infections if a sufficient number of "oocysts" are consumed.

"It was a real surprise to us because that was the first time we've had any indication that there's any cryptosporidium in our water shed," says Huling.

Huling says not to worry. Only two oocysts were detected, and a person usually needs to consume at least a handful before suffering any health effects.

"Twenty-four samples were done over a twelve-month period, and only one of those tests showed anything," says Huling.

The report also suggests that the water may be pushing the limit for safe radon levels. Radon levels in Unalaska's water are between 275 and 335 pCi/L. The prescribed level is 300 pCi/L.

"There is a level of what is permissible, but their detection level is only good within +/- 30. So, we either made it by 25 or didn't by 35," says Huling. "That being said, there's also an alternative level that is based on all of the radon that you're likely to receive in a given day in a given area."

The water is safe according to that alternative level. The maximum safe level of radon exposure is 4000 pCi/L per day - which is over 10 times the amount present in Unalaska's water. Radon levels for the city are generally low, according to Huling.

Dan Winters, the director of public utilities, will be on Speak Up Unalaska tonight at 5pm to answer questions about the report and the city's water quality.