Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded D (61/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 381,174 residents in SALT LAKE CITY, Utah using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 801-483-6744.
Is SALT LAKE CITY tap water safe to drink?
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 381,174 residents in SALT LAKE CITY, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromochloroacetic acid, Arsenic, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dibromoacetic acid. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM (system ID UTAH18026) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for SALT LAKE CITY residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane 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 concernHaloacetic 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 concernPerfluorohexane 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 concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.0 ppb, 340x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.539 ppb.
Contact SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for SALT LAKE CITY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 61/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
| 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 |
34.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 231× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.36 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 168× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.539 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 135× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
20.1 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 101× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.72 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 95× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
16.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 41× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.41 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.93 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× 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 |
| 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 |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.158 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
72.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.44 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | 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 |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.838 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.422 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.547 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 |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.972 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
26.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
0.971 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.211 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0489 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
10.1 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Salt Lake County, Utah. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SALT LAKE CITY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.