Educational Guide · Utah Homeowners

How to Read a Water Test — A Plain-English Guide

Water test results are full of numbers, units, and abbreviations that mean nothing without context. Here's what the key measurements actually mean for a Utah home — and when they cross into territory worth acting on.

The Key Parameters — What They Measure and What They Mean

Most basic in-home water tests cover hardness and chlorine. Comprehensive lab tests go much deeper. Here is what each measurement tells you.

Water Hardness

Measured in: GPG or mg/L
What it measures:

Concentration of calcium and magnesium — the minerals that cause scale and interfere with soap lathering

What high levels mean:

Scale on fixtures and appliances, dry skin, hard-to-lather soap, spotty dishes. Addressed by softening.

Acceptable range:

0–7 GPG (soft to slightly hard)

Typical Utah range:

10–25+ GPG depending on city

Utah context: Hardness is not a health concern — it is a water quality and home protection concern.

Chlorine / Chloramine

Measured in: ppm (mg/L)
What it measures:

Disinfectant residual added by the utility to prevent bacterial regrowth in distribution pipes

What high levels mean:

Chlorine taste and odor, chlorine absorbed through skin during bathing, contributes to HAA formation

Acceptable range:

EPA allows up to 4 ppm; most utilities target 0.2–1.0 ppm at the tap

Typical Utah range:

0.5–2.0 ppm typical at the tap

Utah context: Chlorine itself is not typically a health concern at normal tap levels. Chloramine (used in many Utah utilities) can irritate sensitive populations and is harder to remove than chlorine.

pH

Measured in: pH scale (0–14)
What it measures:

Acidity or alkalinity of the water. 7 is neutral; below 7 is acidic; above 7 is alkaline

What high levels mean:

High pH can accelerate scale formation; low pH can corrode pipes and leach metals

Acceptable range:

6.5–8.5 (EPA secondary standard)

Typical Utah range:

7.5–8.2 (slightly alkaline — common with hard water)

Utah context: Slightly alkaline water (common in Utah) is not a health concern but can contribute to scale.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

Measured in: ppm (mg/L)
What it measures:

Combined weight of all dissolved particles — minerals, salts, metals, organic compounds. Includes both benign and concerning substances.

What high levels mean:

High TDS often correlates with hardness in Utah. TDS alone does not indicate safety — the composition matters more than the total number.

Acceptable range:

0–500 ppm (EPA secondary standard); most prefer under 300 ppm for taste

Typical Utah range:

200–500+ ppm depending on city and season

Utah context: Do not use TDS as a standalone safety indicator. A water softener adds sodium (raising TDS slightly). RO reduces TDS significantly. What matters is what the dissolved solids are, not just how many there are.

Iron / Manganese

Measured in: ppm (mg/L)
What it measures:

Dissolved iron and manganese — naturally occurring metals common in Utah groundwater

What high levels mean:

Rust-colored staining on fixtures and laundry; metallic taste; clogged aerators

Acceptable range:

Iron: under 0.3 ppm · Manganese: under 0.05 ppm (EPA secondary standards)

Typical Utah range:

Variable — more common in Ogden and Weber County groundwater-influenced supplies

Utah context: Iron and manganese at typical tap levels are primarily an aesthetic concern, not a health risk. Addressed by the Katalox stage in Blue Logic's filtration system.

The Hardness Scale — Where Utah Cities Land

If your water test shows a hardness number, here is what it means in context.

Classification GPG mg/L
Soft 0–3 0–51
Slightly Hard 3–7 51–120
Moderately Hard 7–10 120–180
Hard 10–14 180–250
Very Hard 14+ 250+

Three Ways to Learn About Your Water

From fastest to most comprehensive.

1

Free Blue Logic In-Home Water Test

A Blue Logic specialist comes to your home and tests hardness and chlorine on the spot using calibrated field meters. Results are immediate. You get a plain-English explanation of what they mean for your specific home and a transparent system recommendation — all at no cost and with no obligation.

Best for: Understanding whether hard water and chlorine are affecting your home. Fastest path from question to answer.

2

Your Utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)

Every Utah water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report — a document listing all detected contaminants, their levels, and how they compare to federal limits. Search "[your city] water quality report [current year]" or check your utility's website. Also available at the EWG Tap Water Database (ewg.org/tapwater) where utility data is displayed against EWG's stricter health guidelines.

Best for: Understanding your city's overall water profile. Reflects utility supply — not necessarily what comes out of your specific tap.

3

Certified Laboratory Water Test

For specific contaminant concerns — arsenic, lead, PFAS, bacteria, nitrates — a certified lab test is the most comprehensive option. You collect a water sample from your tap and mail it to an accredited laboratory. Results take 1–2 weeks and cost $100–$500+ depending on the scope of testing. Utah's Division of Water Quality maintains a list of certified labs.

Best for: Confirming specific contaminant concerns, especially in homes with older plumbing, well water, or in cities with elevated EWG contaminant flags.

Skip the Research — Let Your Water Tell You

The fastest way to understand your Utah home's water is a free in-home test. Blue Logic comes to you, tests on the spot, and explains the results in plain English.

Schedule Free Water Test →

Common Misunderstandings About Water Test Results

✗ Myth: High TDS means dangerous water
✓ Reality: TDS measures all dissolved particles — including benign calcium and magnesium that make Utah water hard. High TDS from hard water minerals is common and is not a health risk by itself. What matters is what the dissolved solids are, not just the total.
✗ Myth: If it passes federal standards, it's completely safe
✓ Reality: Federal maximum contaminant levels haven't been comprehensively updated in nearly 20 years. The EWG applies stricter guidelines based on more recent research. Federally compliant does not mean risk-free by more current standards.
✗ Myth: A water softener makes my water safe to drink
✓ Reality: A softener removes hardness minerals only. It does not reduce arsenic, PFAS, haloacetic acids, chlorine byproducts, or other contaminants. A water softener improves water performance; it does not improve water safety.
✗ Myth: My water looks and tastes fine, so it's fine
✓ Reality: Arsenic has no taste, smell, or color at the levels found in Utah water. PFAS is similarly invisible. The contaminants of greatest concern in Utah water are not detectable by the senses — only by testing.

Common Questions

What water hardness level requires treatment? +
Any water above 7 GPG (120 mg/L) is considered moderately hard and can benefit from softening. Most Wasatch Front cities deliver water in the 10–25 GPG range — firmly in the 'hard' to 'very hard' category. At these levels, scale accumulation in appliances and pipes is measurable and ongoing. Treatment is advisable above 10 GPG; at 18–25 GPG (common in Sandy, Orem, Draper, Layton), it is strongly recommended.
My water test shows high TDS. Does that mean my water is bad? +
Not necessarily. Total Dissolved Solids measures the combined weight of all dissolved particles in water — including benign minerals like calcium and magnesium as well as potentially harmful contaminants. High TDS from calcium in Utah water is common and is the cause of scale and hard water, but is not itself a health hazard. High TDS does indicate that your water has significant dissolved mineral content that a filtration or RO system would address. The more important question is what the specific dissolved solids are — which a comprehensive water test or your utility's consumer confidence report can tell you.
What does a free Blue Logic water test measure vs. a comprehensive lab test? +
Blue Logic's free in-home water test measures hardness (GPG), chlorine/chloramine residual, and general water quality indicators on-site using calibrated field meters. This identifies your home's hardness level and disinfectant residual accurately and immediately. A certified lab test (sent to an accredited laboratory) can test for specific contaminants including arsenic, lead, PFAS, nitrates, bacteria, and hundreds of other parameters. The in-home test is the right starting point for most Utah homeowners — it confirms whether hard water and chlorine are issues, and your specialist will discuss whether a lab test is warranted based on your city's EWG profile.
Can I trust my utility's water quality report? +
Yes — utilities are legally required to report accurate data. Consumer confidence reports reflect real utility testing data. However, there are important caveats: the report represents the utility's supply at the point of treatment, not at your tap. Old pipes, local distribution infrastructure, and seasonal blending can affect what actually comes out of your faucet. The EWG Tap Water Database processes this utility data but applies stricter health guidelines — which is why EWG numbers can look alarming compared to the utility's self-reported compliance status.
Utah Water Quality Guide Utah Hard Water Guide How to Choose a System Free Water Test

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