UAF utilities earns DEC recognition

September 24, 2019

University Relations

The State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation awarded UAF’s water utility “Ursa Major” status this fall for excellence in water treatment and water distribution systems. The recognition program, established in 2019, recognizes systems that have maintained operator training and compliance for four quarters and did not incur any drinking water violations.

Facilities Services credits the recognition to several factors:

• UAF’s decision to close the outdated drinking water processing facility in 2016 and transition to drinking water purchased from College Utilities;


• Upgrades to the water lab’s systems, new procedures to maintain compliance and the staff’s dedication to those procedures; and


• Training for all water plant employees to help them earn and maintain their operator licenses.

Utilities staff key to this recognition include utilidor mechanic Mike Rego, boiler water treatment specialist James Hocking and former water treatment specialist Danny Heselton. All three have been instrumental in improving water quality for campus users.

UAF publishes an annual water quality report for the campus community. The 2018 report (PDF) is available online.