Many residents of Ketchikan (especially on the north end of town) that live outside the city limits don't have running water or sewer lines.  Individual property owners have to install their own septic tanks and they catch rain off of their roof which goes into a culvert or the foundation of their house which is used as a holding tank.  Ketchikan receives 13 ft. of rain each year and very little snow or cold weather.  Ketchianites know how to conserve water year-round.  That's their way of life.  Interior Alaska has far less rain and colder weather for most of the year.  Two different regions of the state, two different sanitation needs.