Salt Lake City, UT Water Quality Report
Is Salt Lake City tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Salt Lake City, Utah. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Salt Lake City, UT tap water safe to drink? Salt Lake City, UT tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 9.3 ppt across 4 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Salt Lake City, UT water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Salt Lake City water: PFHxS (18.2 ppt), PFOS (7.1 ppt), PFPeA (6.2 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Salt Lake City, UT? Match the filter to what's in Utah water: reverse osmosis handles PFAS, lead, and arsenic together (90%+ removal); pitchers certified to NSF-53 for PFAS like ZeroWater or PUR PLUS cover taps you drink from. A standard Brita pitcher will not remove PFAS.
Salt Lake City, UT Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Salt Lake City, UT drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 18.2 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 9.3 ppt across 4 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFHxS: 18.2 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFOS: 7.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFPeA: 6.2 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFHxA: 5.7 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Salt Lake City, UT Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 7 lead samples for Salt Lake City water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0058 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City public water systems have 1 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violation on record, including Ground Water Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national PFAS survey of US drinking water, covering about 10,000 public water systems. Population of Salt Lake City, UT: approximately 199,723.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Salt Lake City, UT to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Salt Lake City, Utah Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- If anyone in your household is pregnant or under 5, prioritize a certified PFAS filter now and consider a home test kit
- For long-term protection, an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system removes 94-99% of PFAS
- Read the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) your Utah utility publishes each year