Educational Resource · EWG Data · Wasatch Front

Utah Water Quality: What's in Wasatch Front Tap Water

Utah's tap water meets federal standards — but federal limits haven't been meaningfully updated in nearly 20 years. Here's what the EWG data shows for your city, what the contaminants actually are, and what you can do about them.

Important context: All Wasatch Front utilities provide water that meets federal EPA drinking water standards. The contaminant data below reflects the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) stricter health guidelines, which are based on more current research than the federal legal limits. "Exceeding EWG guidelines" does not mean the water is illegal — it means it's detected above EWG's recommended protective thresholds. EWG Tap Water Database →

Water Quality Profiles by City

What the EWG data shows for the most populated Wasatch Front communities. Click the EWG link for each city to see the full database report.

Lehi

Highest arsenic in the region

EWG Report →
Arsenic detected at 484x EWG health guideline

Lehi's fast-growing residential areas draw water from sources with naturally elevated arsenic. New construction doesn't change the source water.

Draper

Arsenic + HAA disinfection byproducts

EWG Report →
Arsenic 450x EWG guideline · HAA9 802x EWG guideline

Draper ranks among the most concerning water profiles on the Wasatch Front, with both arsenic and disinfection byproduct levels significantly above EWG thresholds.

Sandy

Disinfection byproducts (HAAs)

EWG Report →
HAA5 detected at 306x EWG health guideline

Sandy receives purchased surface water from JVWCD. The chlorination of this water produces haloacetic acid compounds at levels well above EWG's health thresholds.

Salt Lake City

PFAS + arsenic

EWG Report →
PFAS detected · Arsenic 135x EWG guideline · 16 contaminants above EWG thresholds

SLC's water supply includes both groundwater and surface water, with PFAS detected in recent utility testing and arsenic flagged by EWG at levels significantly above their health guideline.

Orem

Hexavalent chromium + arsenic + HAAs

EWG Report →
Chromium-6 at 36x EWG guideline · Arsenic at 131x guideline

Orem's water includes hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) — the compound in the Erin Brockovich case — at levels EWG considers elevated. Also arsenic and haloacetic acids.

Provo

Arsenic + disinfection byproducts

EWG Report →
Arsenic 100x EWG guideline · 12 contaminants exceeding EWG thresholds

Provo's water comes primarily from the Provo River watershed and purchased surface sources. The EWG database flags arsenic and multiple disinfection byproducts.

The Contaminants Explained

Arsenic

Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid found throughout Utah's geology — particularly in areas with volcanic rock history and in naturally occurring mineral deposits. As groundwater and surface water move through arsenic-bearing formations, they pick it up. Utah has some of the highest naturally occurring arsenic concentrations in western US drinking water.

The EPA's legal limit is 10 parts per billion (ppb). EWG's health guideline is 0.004 ppb — 2,500 times stricter — based on research suggesting cumulative long-term exposure risks at lower concentrations than the 1975-era federal standard. Multiple Wasatch Front utilities detect arsenic at levels between 1 and 5 ppb — legal, but well above EWG's threshold.

Note: Arsenic at these levels does not cause immediate health effects. The concern is long-term cumulative exposure. Reverse osmosis is among the most effective technologies for arsenic reduction in residential water treatment. Consult the EWG database for your specific utility.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5 and HAA9)

Haloacetic acids are disinfection byproducts — they're created when chlorine or chloramine (used to disinfect municipal water) reacts with naturally occurring organic material in source water. Utah's mountain surface water carries high levels of organic compounds from snowmelt and watershed runoff, making it particularly prone to HAA formation during treatment.

HAA5 and HAA9 are two regulatory groupings for different haloacetic acid compounds. The EPA has legal limits for both. EWG's health guidelines are significantly stricter. Sandy, South Jordan, and West Jordan have some of the highest HAA levels on the Wasatch Front per EWG data.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

PFAS are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in industrial processes and consumer products — from non-stick cookware coatings to firefighting foam. They are called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment or the human body, accumulating over time.

Salt Lake City's Department of Public Utilities announced PFAS detection in its water supply in 2024, at approximately 7 parts per trillion — below the newly finalized EPA limits for some compounds but still a notable finding. Park City's water shows PFOA and PFOS, two of the most studied PFAS compounds.

The EPA finalized new, binding PFAS limits in April 2024 — the first federal standards for these compounds. Utah utilities are in a compliance period. Reverse osmosis is among the most effective residential approaches to PFAS reduction.

Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium-6)

Chromium-6, the compound at the center of the Erin Brockovich environmental case, is a naturally occurring and industrial contaminant found in some Utah water supplies. Orem and West Jordan have elevated levels per EWG data. The EPA regulates total chromium but not chromium-6 specifically; EWG's research suggests the current federal limit does not adequately account for the carcinogenic form of chromium.

What You Can Do About It

The most practical first step is knowing what's actually in your specific home's water — not your city's utility average. Blue Logic's free in-home water test gives you that. From there, a specialist recommends the right system based on what they find.

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Get Your Water Tested

Free in-home water test — Blue Logic comes to you, tests on-site, explains what they find.

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Read Your CCR

Every utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Search "[your city] water quality report [current year]."

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Check EWG Database

The EWG Tap Water Database at ewg.org/tapwater shows your utility's detected contaminants vs. health guidelines.

Schedule Free Water Test →

Common Questions About Utah Water Quality

Is Utah tap water safe to drink? +
Wasatch Front utilities provide water that meets all federal EPA drinking water standards — it is legally safe. However, federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) haven't been comprehensively updated in nearly two decades. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) applies stricter health guidelines based on more recent research, and many Utah utilities detect contaminants — including arsenic, haloacetic acids, and PFAS — at levels above those EWG thresholds. Whether that's acceptable is a personal decision. A free water test is the most practical starting point.
What is arsenic doing in Utah water? +
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in Utah's geology. It leaches into groundwater and surface water as water moves through arsenic-bearing rock formations — a natural process accelerated in Utah by the state's volcanic geology and the historically high use of groundwater from arsenic-rich aquifers. Utah has some of the highest naturally occurring arsenic levels in the western US. The EPA's legal limit for arsenic is 10 parts per billion (ppb). EWG's health guideline is 0.004 ppb — reflecting research suggesting long-term exposure risk at lower levels than the current legal threshold.
What are haloacetic acids (HAAs) and why are they in Utah water? +
Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are disinfection byproducts — they form when chlorine or chloramine used to disinfect drinking water reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in the source water. Utah's surface water sources (mountain snowmelt and watershed runoff) carry organic compounds that react with disinfectants during treatment. The resulting HAA compounds are regulated by the EPA but EWG's health guidelines are far stricter than current legal limits. Sandy, South Jordan, and West Jordan have particularly elevated HAA levels per EWG data.
What is PFAS and has it been found in Utah water? +
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used in industrial and consumer products for decades. They are extremely persistent in the environment — earning the nickname 'forever chemicals.' Salt Lake City's water utility tested positive for PFAS at approximately 7 parts per trillion in recent testing. Park City's supply showed PFOA and PFOS, two specific PFAS compounds. The EPA finalized new maximum contaminant levels for several PFAS in 2024. Utah utilities are in various stages of compliance and monitoring.
Does a reverse osmosis system remove arsenic, PFAS, and haloacetic acids? +
Reverse osmosis membranes are highly effective at reducing a broad range of contaminants including arsenic, many PFAS compounds, and haloacetic acids. The RO process works at the molecular level — the membrane pore size (0.0001 micron) is small enough to exclude most dissolved contaminants. For specific contaminant removal claims, ask your Blue Logic specialist for system documentation at your free water test, as removal rates depend on system configuration and water chemistry.
Utah Hard Water Guide Whole-Home RO Systems Whole-Home Filtration Compare Options Your City's Water Profile

Know What's In Your Water

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