Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in SALT LAKE CITY, Utah

Served by 2 public water systems. 502,257 residents.

Average score 59/100
Utilities 2
Population 502,257
Quick answer

Tap water in SALT LAKE CITY, Utah receives a grade of F (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in SALT LAKE CITY's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving SALT LAKE CITY.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 34.9 ppb, 582x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.404 ppt, 404x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.0 ppb, 340x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Arsenic detected

Moderate concern

Arsenic detected at 0.539 ppb.

Recommended filters for SALT LAKE CITY

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SALT LAKE CITY's water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.

All contaminants detected in SALT LAKE CITY's tap water

Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
34.9 ppb 0.06 582× over
Arsenic
Heavy metal
2.31 ppb 0.004 10.0 10 10 0.004 578× over
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
PFAS
0.404 ppt 0.001 10.0 404× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
34.0 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 340× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
40.8 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 272× over
Bromochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
3.36 ppb 0.02 168× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
8.83 ppb 0.06 147× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
12.0 ppb 0.1 120× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
20.1 ppb 0.2 101× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
25.5 ppb 0.4 64× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
3.0 ppb 0.1 30× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.41 ppb 0.02 20× over
Nitrate and nitrite*
Inorganic
1.49 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 11× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.49 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 11× over
Nitrate and nitrite
Inorganic
1.45 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 10× over
Nitrate*
Inorganic
1.38 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 9.9× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Radiological
0.36 pCi/L 0.05 5.0 7.2× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.21 ppb 0.03 7.0× over
Uranium*
Radiological
2.04 pCi/L 0.43 20.0 30 30 0.43 4.8× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
0.158 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 Below guideline
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
99.3 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
19.2 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Barium
Heavy metal
67.3 ppb 700.0 2000.0 1300 2000 Below guideline
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
0.038 ppb 0.5 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
1.58 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
2.62 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Aluminum
Heavy metal
26.3 ppb 600.0 200 600 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
1.76 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
Selenium
Heavy metal
0.961 ppb 30.0 50.0 20 40 30 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid*
Disinfection byproduct
0.0933 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.688 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)
PFAS
0.138 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
0.127 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Chlorodifluoromethane
Other
0.194 ppb Below guideline
Cyanide
Inorganic
0.971 ppb 200.0 50 70 150 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.465 ppm 4.0 1.5 1.5 Below guideline
Germanium
Other
0.0489 ppb Below guideline
Lithium
Other
16.0 ppb Below guideline
o-toluidine
Other
0.00163 ppb Below guideline
1-Butanol
Other
0.972 ppb Below guideline
Bromide
Other
26.0 ppb Below guideline
Silver
Other
0.029 ppb Below guideline

All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.

Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.

Treatment plant contact info

For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM.

Treatment Plant

FacilityBIG COTTONWOOD WTP