Monday, Apr 22 2013 4:03PM

Some Alaska residents are still waiting for access to drinking water to be restored.

The small Alaskan town of Unalakleet is still surviving on untreated water, after the main pipes that supply treated water system services to the area froze in March, according to the Alaskan Dispatch. 

The emergency resulted in water being shut off for nearly 60 homes. The news source notes that in the meantime, people are being forced to rely on untreated water from the Unalakleet River for dishes and laundry. However, the water is not suitable for drinking in any scenario.

City administrators and crew members have been trying to resolve the problem since March. After thawing the pipe and restoring water, the city discovered a leak that greatly diminished the flow of water, the Dispatch reports.

Further, the age of the pipe coupled with the freezing may result in more leaks, city administrators told the newspaper. As a result, the city may be forced to begin pumping untreated water to households again until they find a solution to the leaks. 

Several towns in rural Alaska are isolated and rely on single sources and providers for water, electricity and broadband networks. When these services are compromised by weather and other scenarios, residents may have little recourse for gaining access until local governments are able to resolve the issue. 

For more information, check out this resource: The Alaska Dispatch