What are some defining moments - the good, the bad, or the wild - that shaped your department?
1916–1920s: Beginnings
- 1916–1917: First sewer lines installed along the bluff and extended into the new townsite.
- 1917: Alaska Railroad installs Anchorage's first water system.
- 1919: Presidential Proclamation establishes Ship Creek as the city's official watershed.
- 1921: City purchases the water system from Alaska Engineering Commission (became Alaska Railroad) for $10,839.
- Early 1920s: Water diverted from Ship Creek near Alaska Native Service Hospital; combined sewers constructed in the Original Townsite.
1930s–1940s: Slow Expansion and Post-War Growth
- Late 1920s–Early 1940s: Water and sewer systems slowly expanded within downtown and toward West Chester Lagoon.
- 1945: Sewer service reaches most of the area between Ship Creek and Chester Creek.
- 1949: Eight miles of water main built from upper Ship Creek to downtown. Groundwater wells added over the next three years.
- 1949–1952: Temporary diversion dam built; permanent concrete dam follows in 1952 in collaboration with the U.S. Army.
1950s: Utility Acquisitions and Infrastructure Expansion
- 1952: City acquires Alaska Railroad's Government Hill water system. Sewer expands into Turnagain and Spenard via Spenard Utilities Corp.
- 1957: Spenard Utilities Corporation water system acquired by the city.
- Mid-1950s: Storm drains disconnected from sanitary sewers. Sewer system remains fragmented and untreated; raw sewage discharged directly into Cook Inlet.
- Small private well-based water systems appear in areas outside city service boundaries.
1960s: Consolidation and Treatment Era Begins
- 1960–1962: City purchases Kadow and Spenard Public Utility District water systems. Fish Creek and Campbell Creek sewer trunks constructed.
- 1962: Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility) built near Ship Creek dam.
- 1964: GAAB (Greater Anchorage Area Borough) formed; acquires Spenard Public Utility District sewer system.
- 1964: 9.2 Earthquake hits Anchorage on March 27. 40% of the water system was back on within 6 hours, with another 25% back in service in the following 18 hours. Nearly 14 miles of temporary water lines were constructed on top of the ground. Nearly all areas desiring water service had it restored to them either temporary or permanent within one week. All reconstruction was completed one week prior to freeze-up in the fall.
- Late 1960s: Water utility becomes a separate division, moves to 3000 Arctic Blvd. GAAB initiates Asplund Wastewater Treatment Facility and wastewater interceptor project.
- 1969: City acquires North Star and Anchorage International Airport water systems.
- Girdwood: US Army Corps of Engineers builds small water system for ~30 users post-quake.
1970s: Unification and Modernization
- 1970: GAAB granted areawide sewer powers; Public Utilities Commission begins regulating water/sewer utilities.
- 1971–1972: GAAB buys Central Alaska Utilities Sand Lake wastewater system. Eagle River sewer interceptor and lagoon system constructed.
- 1972: John M. Asplund Wastewater Treatment Facility opens; eliminates raw sewage discharges.
- 1975: City and GAAB merge, forming the Municipality of Anchorage. Anchorage Water and Sewage Utility (AWSU) formed from previous water/sewer entities.
- Mid–Late 1970s: Rapid expansion of water/sewer infrastructure. Girdwood Wastewater Treatment Facility constructed. Water shortages affect Anchorage Bowl.
1980s: System Expansion and Professionalization
- Early 1980s: Eklutna Water Project initiated; adds 30 miles of 48"–60" main, new surface treatment plant.
- AWSU buys Central Alaska Utilities Water System, gaining 14,000 new customers.
- Mid–Late 1980s:
- Asplund upgraded from 28 to 58 MGD capacity.
- Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility expanded to 24 MGD.
- Girdwood Wastewater Treatment Facility upgraded.
- Utility rebrands as Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU).
- King Street facility purchased.
1990s: National Recognition and Loop Development
- AWWU wins multiple national awards, including “Best Water in the Nation" (U.S. Conference of Mayors).
- Volcanic ash fallout causes severe water shortages; spurs construction of Loop Water Transmission Mains.
- Girdwood water system was purchased and rehabilitated.
2000's: Infrastructure Growth
- Eklutna Water Treatment Facility becomes 24/7 center and lead drinking water facility.
- Loop Water Main Project completed, decades after planning began.
- November 30, 2018, 7.1 Earthquake: The 2018 Earthquake caused 50 immediate water main breaks across the Municipality of Anchorage. Out of the 60 pressure zones that existed at that time, only 1 in the Eagle River Gruening zone lost pressure. However, pressure was restored in approximately 6 hours.
Name a few key staff or community members that have shaped your department and share one or more stories that reflect their impact.
John M. Asplund served as the chairman of the Greater Anchorage Area Borough from 1964 until October 1972. He was the driving force behind the construction of Alaska’s largest wastewater treatment plant, located at Pt. Woronzof. It is formally known today as the John M. Asplund Water Pollution Control Facility. Mr. Asplund’s visionary thinking helped Anchorage have a sewage treatment facility online prior to federal regulations taking effect.
Mark Premo served as the longest-tenured general manager of the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, holding the position for over two decades. Under Mr. Premo’s leadership, the Utility received more than 75 national, statewide, and regional awards. He led AWWU through the administrations of six different Anchorage mayors and oversaw the development of a culture of continuous improvement, transforming AWWU into an efficient and effective water and wastewater utility recognized nationally as a center of excellence through innovation.
Tell us an interesting fact about your department's history.
AWWU’s service area is approximately the same size as the state of Rhode Island.
If you laid all the pipe AWWU is responsible for end to end, it would stretch from Anchorage, Alaska, to Portland, Oregon.
AWWU is two utilities under the umbrella of AWWU, Anchorage Water Utility and Anchorage Sewer Utility.
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