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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM • Updated September 2026
Grade B — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM is in good standing with EPA, with only minor deductions for monitoring paperwork, low-level PFAS or historical readings near a limit.
Yes — by EPA's records Salt Lake City, UT tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes — by EPA's records Salt Lake City, UT tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 2.51 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-10-02 to 2024-10-09) detected PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM has 5 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 383,612 people (EPA PWSID UTAH18026).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
Want to know what's really in your Salt Lake City tap water?
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Salt Lake City's UCMR5 sampling.
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SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-07
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. Older health-based violations (since 2016) are listed below for context.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure To Address DeficiencyGroundwater Rule | Treatment technique | 2017-09-09 | Resolvedreturned 2018-05-25 |
| Monitoring, Source Water (GWR)E. COLI | Monitoring & reporting | 2018-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2018-07-27 |
| Monitoring, Source Water (GWR)E. COLI | Monitoring & reporting | 2017-11-01 | Resolvedreturned 2017-12-01 |
| Monitoring, Source Water (GWR)E. COLI | Monitoring & reporting | 2017-10-01 | Resolvedreturned 2017-12-01 |
| Monitoring, Routine (RTCR)Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | 2017-07-01 → 2017-07-31 | Resolvedreturned 2017-07-31 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31), 90% of the homes SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM sampled had lead at or below 2.51 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 2.51 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 4.47 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2016-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 2.78 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2013-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | 6.8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2010-01-01 → 2012-12-31 | 5.3 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2005-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2002-01-01 → 2004-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2001-01-01 → 2003-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1998-01-01 → 2000-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1995-01-01 → 1995-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1994-01-01 → 1994-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-10-02 to 2024-10-09 · 1,508 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
PFOS and PFHxS measured at or above EPA's legal limit in at least one sample. Utilities have until 2029 (2031 under EPA's proposed extension) to comply with the 2024 PFAS rule, so a result above the MCL today is not yet a violation — but it is the number that matters for your health.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 52 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 1 / 52 | 7.1 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 1 / 52 | 18.2 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 52 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 52 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 52 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 1 / 52 | 5.7 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 1 / 52 | 6.2 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
Lithium (also monitored under UCMR5, not a PFAS): detected in 25 of 52 samples, max 42.8 µg/L. There is no federal limit for lithium.
What PFAS are and how to remove them → · Best filters for PFAS →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic acids (HAA5) are flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 213 detects | 0.105 µg/L | 1 µg/L | 10 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Nitrate (as N) | 2118 detects | 0.21 mg/L | 1.2 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 7573 detects | 0.533 mg/L | 0.875 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 211 detects | 0.238 µg/L | 5 µg/L | 100 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Gross alpha | 72 detects | 0.6 pCi/L | 2.3 pCi/L | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 345 | 40.316 µg/L | 92 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 4 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 333332 detects | 30.926 µg/L | 71.6 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 11 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Lead (tap samples) | 20174 detects | 1.041 µg/L | 27.774 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 197178 detects | 93.211 µg/L | 716.334 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Salt Lake City will follow up - no obligation.
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 86,123 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM reports 222 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (0.3% of the lines it has inventoried), plus 31,866 lines whose material is still unknown. A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID UTAH18026 · See all Utah lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Salt Lake City homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Salt Lake City faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Salt Lake City households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Salt Lake City ranks #7 of 7 graded Utah cities.
Yes — by EPA's records Salt Lake City, UT tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 2.51 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-10-02 to 2024-10-09) detected PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM has 5 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 383,612 people (EPA PWSID UTAH18026).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Salt Lake City's UCMR5 sampling.
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