Food, water, and energy (FEW) securities are intertwined, impacting each other. This is especially true in rural Alaska, where numerous communities are off the road system and can only rely on their own infrastructure.
We investigated the FEW nexus using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. We developed a FEW security framework with four components: (1) availability and stability, (2) access, (3) quality and utility, and (4) preference. Using the framework, we then assessed the drivers of FEW security in three remote Alaska communities through community meetings and 118 household interviews.
We found that low water security negatively impacted health, and that water insecurity problems were generally due to access and availability issues, such as freezing pipes or lack of infrastructure. Residents felt most secure with respect to water when they had access to alternative water sources, such as rivers and ponds. Water security was high across the communities, even in Kongiganak, where residents do not have in-home water services and must haul their water.
Using econometrics methods, we also investigated the water-energy nexus in Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative member communities. We found evidence that in-home water services and electricity are complementary goods. In other words, an increase in the price of electricity will result in a decrease in demand for water services.
We also found that the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is linked to a significant increase in revenue for water utilities and could be construed as an indirect subsidy for water utilities.
