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Outhouses in Alaska

Page history last edited by avilel19@scsd.us 15 years ago

  

Why are there so many outhouses in Alaska?

 

       Normal Outhouse                        Fancy Outhouse                       Inside a fancy outhouse

                   

 

  

Have you ever wondered why outhouses are so common in Alaska? There are several reasons:

 

1. Many people do not have running water in Alaska. Much of the state is still open wilderness. Very few people live in these areas. For this reason the state has not developed the complex underground water and sewage systems that are found in the lower 48. The people are just too spread out. Often these people do not have electricity either. Those that live in large cities and along the few major highways and roads traveling through the state are more likely to have access to running water and electricity (These people can be connected with power lines and water lines because there are many people in a single area).

 

2. One of the features of the Tundra ecosystem that makes up the vast majority of the Alaskan landscape is that much of the ground remains permanently frozen all year long. This frozen ground is called Permafrost. In Denali we have what is called discontinuous permafrost. This means that this permanently frozen ground can be found 1 foot below the surface in one area and 20 feet below the surface in another area. This makes it extremely hard to drill for water in Alaska. It can be very expensive to find an area close enough to your home where the permafrost is deep enough to allow for a water well to be dug. There are also some places where a well is just not possible.

 

3. The harsh Alaskan winters also play a major role in the lack of running water in many areas. Winter in Alaska can last up to 8 months. The temperature often drops to 20-60 degrees below zero. Without proper treatment and attention underground water pipes can freeze solid and explode. This is a constant headache for those residents that have running water. Water has to be left on slightly during the night to keep the water flowing and warm so that it doesn't freeze solid. Bursting pipes can be very costly. Many Alaskan residents believe that running water is actually more inconvenient than useful.

 

 

Along with outhouses Alaskans have many ways they have adapted to living without running water. Residents must haul their own water in 5 gallon jugs. There are places where you can buy water for a few cents and fill up your water jugs to bring back to your house. This water is used to drink, cook with, wash dishes, and clean with. The used water flows through the sink and dumps into a large bucket below the sink. This gray (used) water can then be dumped out when it is full.

 

Showers and laundry machines may also be hard to find if you don't have running water. Some gas stations have public showers that you can pay to use and coin operated laundry machines.

 

 

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