Northern Utility Services is a trusted Alaskan underground utility contractor with the experience and technology to provide high quality utility repairs and replacements. Weather you are a homeowner who needs a water line repair or replacement, a water utility with a major leak, or anything in between, Northern Utility Services’ competent personnel and state of the art equipment stand ready to serve you.
While directional drilling has become standard practice for replacing water and sewer mains over long distances and under roadways, it has typically been impractical for smaller projects such as service line replacements. To meet the small scale trenchless need, Northern Utility Services has invested in specialized directional drilling equipment capable of trenchless water and sewer line installation in tight quarters.
This specialized drilling unit can be set up in the bottom of a trench box or inside a building, allowing the drilling to be started at the desired depth within an excavated area of as little as 24 square feet. With a maximum drilling distance of 150ft, this technology is perfect for replacing short water, sewer, private gas lines, etc without destroying costly landscaping, pavement or other surface structures.
Alaska’s trusted water and sewer repair contractors
Northern Utility Services has been repairing and replacing private water and sewer lines for over 15 years and has developed the experience and tools necessary to make lasting repairs in any situation. Private homes, trailer courts, commercial buildings, and more. And now with financing options available, it is easier than ever to repair your aging water and sewer lines.
Quality you can count on
Northern Utility Services is confident in its team, and the repairs we complete. We offer a 3 year warranty on any work we complete. If any fittings or pipe we install starts leaking within 3 years of the repair or installation of a new line, we will fix the leak completely free of charge.
Northern Utility Services is proud to provide our services with clear and easy to understand pricing. Before any repair is completed, we will provide an estimate of the time and materials required to install the new line or make any repairs. Our work is done on a time and materials basis with a cost cap set up in the estimate, so you know the maximum we will charge for a given project, and can rest easy knowing the maximum amount the project will cost.
Repair water lines & valves with minimal damage to driveways or gardens
Low Impact Excavation
Northern Utility Services is proud to provide low impact excavation options for any repair. With our compact directional drilling system and shoring systems, NUS has the tools and experience to complete repairs with minimal impact, often only disturbing a 4ft x 5ft. NUS can also deploy heavy duty mats to minimize damage to surrounding landscaping.
Low impact methods do take more time and therefore will end up costing more than simply open trenching a new water line. However, if permanent structures such as mature trees, driveways, sidewalks and decks must be disrupted, trenchless line replacement is the hands down winner.
Northern Utility Services has invested in trenchless utility replacement, bringing small scale directional drilling to Alaska. By using a miniaturized directional drilling unit that can be easily set up in the bottom of a trench box, the drilling can be started at the desired depth within an excavated area of as little as 24 square feet.
Possible Complications
Complications such as high ground water and large boulders or cobbles can limit the ability to complete excavations with minimal impact. As soon as such conditions are encountered, a consultation will be requested to determine the best method to complete the repair.
Northern Utility Services has the tools and the experience to locate any underground utilities that may conflict with your next big project. Underground utilities on private property are often beyond the meter or utility shut off and therefore owned by the property owner. Other utility companies do not provide locates for these utilities. There also may be gas, electric or cable lines extending to an outbuilding that would be considered private and will not be located by gas/electric/cable companies.
To protect these utilities from damage, Northern Utility Services will locate and mark private underground utilities with standard underground utility color code markings. Dig Safe. Call Before You Dig!
Northern Utility Services has the tools and expertise to find the leak in your water line. We own the most advanced leak detection equipment in Alaska, and have successfully located hundreds of leaks all over the state. Our professionally trained leak detection technicians have the experience and the tools to locate a leak within 5 feet of accuracy*.
If the water line between your house and your water source is leaking, we can ensure that you dig in the right place and don’t waste thousands of dollars and ruin your entire yard trying to find the leak. With our service you can have confidence that you will be able to dig in the right place the first time.
Repairing water lines is expensive! Leak Detection can ensure that you dig in the right place.
The Echologics LeakFinderST device we use for Acoustic Leak Correlation
As part of our service, we provide an Initial consultation to learn the details of your unique situation. Next, we utilize a correlator to pinpoint leak locations. Acoustic Leak Noise Correlation is a method for finding and pinpointing leaks in pressurized water pipes.
A leak in a pipe under pressure creates noise that travels along the pipe. The correlator uses sensitive microphones to listen to the noise created by the leak. Then, by utilizing sophisticated software, the leak can often be located within feet or even inches.
Possible Complications:
Although we are experts at finding leaks, many variables can cause inconsistent or inaccurate results. By eliminating these variables, leak detection efforts are more likely to provide accurate results. These variables are:
1. Pipe types, locations and depths. If location, or pipe routing is unknown, Northern Utility Services is equipped to locate underground piping. However some pipe materials can be difficult or impossible to locate, and as a result, only a general leak location may be possible.
2. Ambient Noise. Although our equipment employs sophisticated noise filters, ambient noise can affect the results of leak noise correlations. By locating leaks at night, or by shutting off running nearby equipment, we can ensure more accurate results.
*5ft is the average deviation between the leak location and the correlation software’s estimated leak location. Larger deviations can occur due to the complications listed above, but the deviation can often be less than 5ft if conditions are ideal.
Frozen pipes are often a problem in Alaska, but Northern Utility Services has developed methods for thawing almost any water line. Our team of water professionals knows the inconvenience of frozen pipes. We have the tools and experience to thaw your frozen pipe safely and easily.
A water jet is inserted into the pipe and sprays the inside of the pipe with hot water to thaw the ice blockage.
The most common method for thawing copper or steel lines is using a high amperage power source to heat the pipe. However, this method only works on metal piping. Many homes are now plumbed with plastics that cannot be thawed by conventional methods. To ensure that we can serve any customer in any situation, Northern Utility Services has developed a hot water jet capable of thawing most water lines quickly and easily. This method works on both metal and plastic pipes.
If you are selling your home and need your well water tested, or simply want the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have safe water, our trained and knowledgeable operators can collect any water samples you may require. Well & pressure tank inspections are also an important part of keeping your water safe and your well pump running correctly.
Independent
Northern Utility Services is Alaska’s trusted independent water and wastewater sampling contractor. Our state certified water and wastewater operators will take your samples precisely and quickly, and our partnership with a local testing lab means that we can have results in as little as 36 hours*.
Experienced
NUS has over 20 years of experience in drinking water regulatory compliance and monitoring. Our operators take hundreds of water and wastewater samples per year, ensuring the water quality for thousands of Alaskans. Water is our passion, and we will use that passion to serve you.
Serving Alaska
Our primary operating area is in Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, Palmer & Wasilla, however, we often work as far north as Talkeetna and are in the Kenai/Soldotna area at least once a month. Inspections & water testing outside the Anchorage/Mat-su area will include a charge for travel time.
If you are selling your home in the Municipality of Anchorage, or have buyers using a VA or FHA loan to purchase your home, this is the test package for you. To prove that your water is safe, we test for the three most common and dangerous water contaminants: Nitrates, and Coliform Bacteria.
Well Kit 1
If you have never had your well water tested, or if your well hasn’t been tested in many years, we suggest that you start with the Well Kit 1 Package. Coliform Bacteria testing will indicate if surface contamination is entering your well. Arsenic is common in ground water but levels above 10 parts per billion are considered dangerous. Arsenic levels rarely fluctuate. Nitrates can be harmful to children, and elevated levels indicate interference from nearby septic systems or surface contamination. Nitrates in well water can fluctuate seasonally due to ground water flow and surface run off. If your well water has a Nitrate value over 5.0 Mg/L (milligrams per litre) we suggest getting a nitrate sample at least every year, preferably every 6 months.
We regularly manage water compliance for over 70 public water systems serving more than 13,000 people.
Coliform Bacteria Testing
Coliform bacteria can indicate the presence of other harmful bacteria in your water. It is recommended that private wells be tested for coliform bacteria at least once a year, as bacteria are the single biggest health risk related to your drinking water.
Some wells present higher risk than others. If your well is less than 50 ft deep, is located in a low spot where water stands near the well, is situated below grade, draws from a bedrock fissure, or has any holes or gaps larger than 1/8 inch, it is strongly suggested that a quarterly testing program be implemented.
Other Water Testing
We offer testing services for all major water contaminants, including Bacteria, Arsenic, Nitrates, Lead, Copper, Volatile Organic Compounds, Iron, Hardness, Chlorine, Fluoride, and many more.
Well & Pressure Tank Inspections
Water Well Inspection
Your water well is your source of safe, potable drinking water. For your safety, the wellhead (pictured) should be inspected on a regular basis. If the wellhead is not properly secured, your well can easily be contaminated with anything from fertilizer to small rodents.
Pressure Tank Inspection
Every home with a private well should have a pressure tank. This pressure tank acts as a buffer in the water system and keeps the water pressure in the home consistent. The pressure tank should be half-filled with water and the rest should be pressurized air. This air buffer allows the house to maintain a consistent water pressure, increasing the life of the well pump.
After 5+ years, it is possible for the air charge to go away, causing the pressure tank to fill up with water. As a part of our well inspection, we will include a check to ensure your tank has the appropriate air charge. We will also inspect your check valve to ensure it is working properly.
This wellhead has a proper sanitary cap and conduit properly attached.
*Rushed samples must be requested before 11:00 am or an additional 18 hours may be added to the turnaround time. 36 hours is only available for the coliform bacteria sample, all other samples will take longer.
Trenchless Technology
Affordable, Tight Quarters Directional Drilling While directional drilling has become standard practice for replacing water and sewer mains over long
