Recognizing the high cost to operate sanitation infrastructure in rural Alaska, the ANTHC Rural Energy Initiative works with communities to implement innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, combined with local operator training, to make public sanitation affordable. Since 2010, ANTHC has completed energy projects in 66 rural Alaska communities. In 2013, ANTHC completed energy efficiency work and operator training in Chevak, Alaska. The City of Chevak was struggling with debt and had no money in reserves for parts or ...

This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the expansion of the Local Environmental Observers (LEO) Network program, a concept initiated and championed by ANTHC and Alaska Tribal communities. The EPA expansion will extend the LEO Network reach into the Lower 48 states. This expansion will develop a Lower 48 LEO network hub at Northwest Indian College in Bellingham, Washington and create a model for the other 35 tribal colleges and universities in the Lower 48 to replicate across ...

This week, many ANTHC programs participated in the Water Innovation for Healthy Arctic Homes (WIHAH) conference held in Anchorage Sept. 18-21. The WIHAH conference brings together Alaskan, U.S., and international engineers, health experts, researchers, community members, policymakers, and innovators to discuss health benefits, challenges and innovations associated with making running water and sewer in remote northern communities safe, affordable and sustainable. ANTHC programs shared their expertise including Environmental Health and Engineering project management, Tribal Utility Support, Climate and Environmental Health, ...

ANTHC is busily working with the community of Eek to provide piped water and sewer to residents in this western Alaska village of approximately 300 people. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program (USDA-RD) recently awarded $5.9 million to provide water and sewer main lines, services, and house plumbing. Funding will be matched with $1 million in funding from the State of Alaska as part of a larger project to provide water and sewer throughout Eek. David Beveridge, ANTHC ...

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) announced several grants and loan funding for rural Alaska communities and organizations to address rural sanitation issues. ANTHC is among the grantees, as well as many of our Tribal health partners, which total $27 million in USDA-RD Water and Environmental Programs funding. The funding ANTHC received will support sanitation projects in Adak, Akiak, Chignik, Eek, Golovin, Hydaburg, Kasaan, Kiana, Kivalina, New Stuyahok, Oscarville, Port Graham, Saxman, Teller, Toksook Bay and Twin ...

Last week, staff from ANTHC’s Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC) program hosted visitors from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Governance Honoring Nations awards committee. ARUC has been selected as one of this year’s top six programs for the Honoring Nations award that celebrates exemplary programs in Tribal governance: Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative selected as one of six finalists for Harvard award. As one of the top finalists, ARUC staff had the pleasure of showcasing their work in ...