Earlier this year, climate conditions in Eek posed unique challenges and created an opportunity for Environmental Health and Engineering staff to display their high caliber of team work and problem solving skills and provide Eek residents with a year-round water supply with a newly installed water intake system. Construction staff were waiting for the ice on the Eenayarak River to freeze to a depth thick enough to support an excavator used to install the water intake structure. However, the ice ...

ANTHC’s Rural Energy Initiative recently received its fifth consecutive Green Champion Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its innovative work in alternative energy to replace diesel stoves with biomass boilers to heat public utilities. The awards honor HHS employees and Alaska Native and Native American Tribal members involved in outstanding sustainability projects and demonstrate measureable results in sustainability practices. The Rural Energy Initiative’s biomass boiler projects have been constructed in the communities of Hughes, ...

Earlier this month, the community of Russian Mission, Alaska celebrated Tribal water management through a series of “Water is Life” events that included paint marbling with school children, a water bingo night, a movie night, and a mural unveiling. The Water is Life project is a partnership between the National Tribal Water Center, the Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC), the City of Russian Mission, Iqurmiut Traditional Council and the Russian Mission School. Through the events, the Water is Life project ...

ANTHC is co-locating a Climate Change Adaptation Program with the Denali Commission’s Environmentally Threatened Communities Program. Program Manager Don Antrobus will work with the Commission’s Federal Co-chair, Director of Programs and Commissioners, as well as federal agencies, the State of Alaska and local stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to support community resiliency in the face of climate change. Climate change is an important issue to the health of our people and our communities. Over the past 60 years, the ...

When water treatment facilities are upgraded or improved, it gives Environmental Health and Engineering staff and leaders a great sense of pride when people are appreciated and recognized by a community. This happened in Igiugig, Alaska when the upgrades to the community’s water treatment plant were completed. Jim Dullinger, ANTHC Senior Journeyman Plumber, was recognized by the Igiugig Village Council for the care and attention he gave to the water treatment plant project. AlexAnna Salmon of the Igiugig Village Council ...

The State of Alaska recently approved $740,000 of funding for upgrades and energy efficiency improvements for the Holy Cross, Kiana and Noorvik water and sewer systems. The funding will be used to improve sustainability and lower water system operating costs in these communities. Many of the upgrades and energy improvements were identified by energy audits completed by the ANTHC Rural Energy Initiative. The savings from these energy efficiency improvements can be significant; the Noorvik energy audit expects an annual savings ...