In effect nowKaktovik water

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER

✕Don't drink, cook, or brush teethNo ice or drinks. Boiling won't help.
✓Showers, dishes and laundry are fine
💧Free water pickupKaktovik Water Treatment Plant›
Borough update Sep 14 · KaktovikWater.org ↗

From the Borough's public notices and the September 11 town hall.

The work to bring back safe water

  1. Sep 14Incident Command and one information point set upA Joint Information Center now gives residents one place for verified updates and questions.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 14, 2026 ↗“The North Slope Borough has established an Incident Command to coordinate”Public notice · September 14, 2026 ↗“The response is organized around four primary objectives:”
  2. Sep 14First retest came back clear at the lab's limitsEncouraging news. More sensitive tests are being run to be sure before anything changes.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 15, 2026 ↗“New laboratory results received September 14 showed no ethylene glycol or propylene glycol detected above”Public notice · September 15, 2026 ↗“are encouraging, the laboratory method detection limits were 12 mg/L for ethylene glycol and 5 mg/L for”
  3. Sep 15Heat exchanger removed; upgrades plannedCrews kept inspecting the system, removed a heat exchanger tied to the North Tank, and are planning upgrades for the others.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 15, 2026 ↗“North Tank. The failed heat exchanger has been removed from the potable water system, and upgrades are being”
  4. Sep 16 · underwayNorth Tank cleaned and readied for fresh waterCrews are cleaning the emptied North Tank and getting it ready to refill.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 16, 2026 ↗“Crews have begun cleaning and preparing the tank for”
  5. Sep 18 · scheduledRefilling from the lakeRefilling by pipeline from the lake was scheduled to start September 18 and may take about one week, depending on weather.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 16, 2026 ↗“Refilling through the pipeline from the lake is scheduled to begin Friday, September 18, and may take”
  6. Not yetResults from the more sensitive testsSamples taken September 14 are being run through a more sensitive test. Results are on the way.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 16, 2026 ↗“Additional water samples collected September 14 have been sent to the laboratory for analysis using lower”
  7. Not yetOfficials lift the orderThe order stays until officials announce it is lifted. Keep using bottled or supplied water until then.
    Where this comes fromOfficial FAQ ↗“The Do Not Drink order will remain in effect while testing, evaluation and response activities continue.”
Show the 4 earlier steps
  1. Sep 5Do Not Drink order issued, emergency water brought inThe order went out the same day the lab result came back, with emergency drinking water arriving that evening and medical staff the next day.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 5, 2026 ↗“Recent testing has detected ethylene glycol in the community water system.”Public notice · September 5, 2026 ↗“The source of the ethylene glycol detected in the water has not yet been confirmed.”
  2. Sep 7Samples taken across the whole systemMore samples were collected from both tanks and both loops and sent to a certified lab.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 10, 2026 ↗“Additional samples were collected September 7 from the North Tank, South Tank, and both distribution loops.”
  3. Sep 11Town hall with residentsResidents asked their questions of Incident Command, state agencies, health staff and a veterinarian, in person and online.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 14, 2026 ↗“On Friday, September 11, Incident Command held a community town hall that residents could attend”
  4. Sep 13Stored water pumped out to make room for fresh waterWith state approval, stored water was pumped out so the tanks can take fresh drinking water.
    Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 12, 2026 ↗“Pumping will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday, September 13 and is expected to continue for”Public notice · September 16, 2026 ↗“The controlled discharge of the North Tank is complete.”

Ask it anything about the response

It has read every notice and the whole town hall. Each answer shows the exact words it found, and nothing from outside them.

What residents asked at the town hall

Tap one to open the recording at that moment.

Town hall · 28:49“Is the water from the water truck OK to drink?”

Yes. The response team said the water truck was flushed, cleaned, tested and approved to deliver drinking water, and that it carries treated water that is separate from the piped system. The September 16 update confirms the truck is approved.

Answered by Incident Command

Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 29:03 ↗Watch this part of the recordingPublic notice · September 16, 2026 ↗“The water truck is approved to”
Town hall · 35:49“Will glycol testing continue after this?”

Yes. The response team said they are adding glycol testing to regular water testing — not just in Kaktovik, but across the region.

Answered by Response operations team; DEC drinking water program

Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 36:18 ↗Watch this part of the recordingTown hall recording · 42:39 ↗Watch this part of the recording
Town hall · 1:03:43“Will we need ongoing health checks after this?”

A physician on the call said he did not expect that to be needed, and explained that the body breaks down and clears ethylene glycol. Blood testing was offered in Kaktovik September 10–18, and the clinic can answer health questions.

Answered by A physician on the call

Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 1:04:12 ↗Watch this part of the recordingTown hall recording · 1:02:08 ↗Watch this part of the recording
Town hall · 1:05:44“Will mental health support be coming? There is a lot of stress.”

Yes. The NSB Health Department said a team will come to Kaktovik to offer behavioral health support for anyone who wants to talk with someone.

Answered by NSB Health Department

Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 1:05:56 ↗Watch this part of the recording
Town hall · 1:07:44“Does the order apply to our dogs and pets?”

A veterinarian said dogs, and especially cats, are very sensitive to ethylene glycol. She advised following the Do Not Drink order for pets too by giving them another water supply, and calling the vet clinic with any concerns.

Answered by A veterinarian

Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 1:20:00 ↗Watch this part of the recordingTown hall recording · 1:23:12 ↗Watch this part of the recording
Town hall · 1:29:01“Do we have to pick up the water, or can it be delivered?”

Water can be delivered on request. Residents were told to contact the water plant or local Public Works, and that delivery for Elders and larger families would be prioritized.

Answered by Incident Command

Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 1:29:42 ↗Watch this part of the recordingTown hall recording · 1:30:07 ↗Watch this part of the recording

Also being done

✓Adding glycol testing to regular water testing — in Kaktovik and across the region.Response operations team
Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 36:18 ↗Watch this part of the recording
✓Sending a team to Kaktovik to offer behavioral health support to anyone who wants to talk.NSB Health Department
Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 1:05:56 ↗Watch this part of the recording
✓Planning another town meeting when new test results come in.NSB Health Department
Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 1:26:49 ↗Watch this part of the recording
✓Looking at smaller water containers that fit inside homes, after hearing from residents.Incident Command
Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 1:27:53 ↗Watch this part of the recording
✓Ready to bring more resources into Kaktovik, including more water trucks, if they are needed.Incident Command
Where this comes fromTown hall recording · 1:31:31 ↗Watch this part of the recording
✓Sharing verified updates as they come in, and telling residents promptly if water guidance changes.Joint Information Center
Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 14, 2026 ↗“JIC will provide updates as new, verified information becomes available and will promptly notify”
✓Monitoring the lagoon area during and after the pumping.North Slope Borough
Where this comes fromPublic notice · September 12, 2026 ↗“However, the North Slope Borough will monitor the area during and after the discharge for any”
The official FAQ, notices and resources

They live on the Joint Information Center's site, and that is where they are kept current.

Open KaktovikWater.org ↗

OlenHub is not the official source and does not decide when the water is safe. Everything above is drawn from material published by the Kaktovik Water Response Joint Information Center (North Slope Borough); town hall items come from a machine transcript of the official recording, and each opens the recording so you can hear it yourself. This is not medical advice. If you feel sick, go to the Kaktovik clinic. In an emergency call 911.