How do I get water service extended to my area?

If your property doesn’t have a water main nearby, you may be able to petition for a main extension. However, this is a significant undertaking that requires broad community support and substantial cost.

Petition requirements:

• Must be signed by the owners of 2/3 of the proposed benefiting properties
• The utility will review the petition
• The utility may accept or deny based on its ability to supply the proposed extension
• All line extensions must conform to the most current Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility design criteria

Cost responsibility: Main extension costs are either:

• Paid directly by the petitioner(s), or
• Paid via an assessment negotiated between petitioners and utility on a case-by-case basis
• The assessment terms must be approved by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA)

For more information, see Who pays for water main extensions? and Can I finance the cost of a main extension?

The process:

1. Gather signatures from 2/3 of benefiting property owners
2. Submit petition to utility
3. If accepted, negotiate a line extension agreement
4. Agreement must include financing terms, responsibility for plans, engineering, inspection, bonds, etc.
5. RCA must approve the agreement
6. Both parties sign and pay required fees before construction begins

After construction: Once completed and inspected, ownership of all water mains and service connections within rights-of-way or utility easements transfers to the utility, which will then maintain them (subject to a 2-year warranty against defects).

Tariff Reference: Section W-019-A, Section W-019-B