Trust in Tap Water among Alaska Native Communities: A Case Study of a Community within the Norton Sound Region

Access to safe and reliable water remains a challenge for many Alaska Native communities. Even "served" Alaska Native communities, where at least 55% of homes have in-home piped water, often face service disruptions, unaffordability, and boil water advisories, all of which erode trust in tap water and increase reliance on potentially unsafe alternative sources. However, few studies have investigated how specific experiences with water utility services, including water system aesthetics, service reliability, sensory qualities of tap water, utility communication, and service affordability, influence the user trust in tap water. We administered a survey to 63 residents in a community in the Norton Sound region and used ordered logistic regression to assess the associations between trust in tap water and user experiences. The results showed that trust in tap water is significantly associated with users' satisfaction with the water treatment method. In small and remote systems, this finding demonstrates that trust in tap water depends not only on perceptions about water quality but also on views of treatment practices. Our results suggest that strengthening treatment performance and communication, particularly through transparent, culturally grounded engagement, can enhance both user confidence and community trust in the safety and reliability of tap water.