Water levels restored in Alaska communities hit by drought

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Recent rains have restored water levels in two communities hit by severe drought conditions in Kenai Peninsula, and restrictions have been lifted.

Nanwalek and Seldovia temporarily imposed conservation measures after struggling to meet their water needs amid the state’s hot, dry summer. The communities rely on rain and snow melt to fill reserves.

Nanwalek Tribal Administrator Gwen Kvasnifoff (KUH’-vis-nih-koff) says conditions are “a lot better,” with the local dam filling up. To deal with water shortages, the community had shut off the public water supply 12 hours each day and was barging in jugs of water.

Seldovia City Manager Cassidi Cameron says rainfall has brought the water levels back to normal. During the drought, automatic flush toilets were switched to manual flushing, and restaurants were serving meals on paper plates.