Water Quality Sampling Most of Alaska's waters are suitable for
the following beneficial uses: - water supply (drinking,
agriculture, aquaculture, industrial); - water recreation; -
growth and propagation of fish, shellfish, aquatic life, and
wildlife. Some beneficial uses are limited by natural water
quality conditions in Alaska: - suspended sediment in glacial
waterbodies; - highly mineralized waterbodies; - microorganisms
such as giardia (beaver fever), schistosoma (swimmer's itch), -
and high bacterial counts from decomposing salmon in streams.
Beneficial uses can also be limited or impaired by the following
human activities in Alaska: - oil & gas development - timber
harvesting - seafood processing - Urban development: - urban
runoff - septic systems - landfill leachate - Military
development: - abandoned installations - operational
installations Fecal coliform bacteria, sediment, and petroleum
products are the primary pollutants of surface waters in Alaska.
Petroleum products are the primary pollutants