Unalaska, AK – The City of Unalaska has released its annual report on water quality, and the conclusion is that the community's water remains clean and safe to drink.

Contaminants were only found in trace amounts. The city of Unalaska suffered on minor state violation for turning in a water sample late. However, Public Utilities Director Dan Winters says that water sample still was not found to contain any harmful contaminants.

Last year, there was some concern about cryptosporidium levels in the city's water. That parasite can cause digestive problems, and two oocysts were detected in one 15-gallon water sample as part of 20 tests on water quality.

This year's report does not contain any new information on cryptosporidium, but Winters says that no one in the community has ever reported suffering from crypto.

"A normal person needs seven to ten for it to really affect you," says Winters.

The report also says that a trace amount of radon was found in the water, but that only 300 picocuries per liter were detected. Over ten times that amount would be needed to trigger any action. Winters says that this radon is naturally occurring, and does not have any connection to fallout from March's Fukushima power plant disaster in Japan.

"If it did hit us, we would be the first to do something about it," says Winters, adding that the city would shut off the water supply if it were affected by harmful radiation contamination.

Winters says that these annual reports do help inform the city's water treatment process. Right now, the water is already chlorinated. But the city is working on building a new water treatment plant in order to comply with EPA standards, where water will undergo additional UV treatment.

"Is it going to make our water any better? No. Is it going to make it any worse? No," says Winters. "It's just money we have to spend to keep up with the regulations."

Winters says there are certain things that locals can do to help keep their drinking water safe. He suggests installing plastic pipes instead of metal ones when building a new home, and he also says that builders should consider using ball valves instead of gate valves.

Additionally, he says that people should take care when recreating near Icy Creek, the source of much of the city's water supply. Specifically, he says they should avoid camping or walking pets in the area.

Overall, Winters says the water is clean as always. And, he adds, there's one big advantage to drinking it.

"Drink the city water. Don't drink bottled water, please! If only because the plastic bottles go into the landfill."