What was found in Salt Lake City's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 4521.9 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6400 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 4543.52 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4734 µg/L — HOLLIDAY WATER COMPANY · 15,000 people · 2013 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 700.4 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1185 µg/L — EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 1,000 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 347.92 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 998.027 µg/L — VA MEDICAL CENTER SLC · 2,798 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 106.275 µg/L 5.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 92.4 µg/L 9.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 63.34 µg/L 79% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 72.14 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 57.1665 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 44.612 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 56.73 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 42.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2024 | 4/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 27.73 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 25.56 µg/L 1278% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 2 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 19.4105 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.64 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.701 µg/L 51% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.86 µg/L — EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 1,000 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 12.6635 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.5 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 15.3 µg/L 255% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 13.74 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 1,000 people · 2013 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.445 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.675 µg/L — SL COUNTY SERVICE AREA NO 3 - SNOWBIRD · 5,110 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.5000 µg/L 8.3% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.55 µg/L — SL COUNTY SERVICE AREA NO 3 - SNOWBIRD · 5,110 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 5.763 µg/L 2.9% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.7 µg/L — EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 1,000 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.85 µg/L 6.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.6 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2018 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 6.56 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 6.39 µg/L 128% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.6575 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.1435 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.474 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.821 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 4.2 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 2.095 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.8 µg/L — SL COUNTY SERVICE AREA NO 3 - SNOWBIRD · 5,110 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.0685 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.66 µg/L — EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 1,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.29 pCi/L 22% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.3 pCi/L — EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 1,000 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.4795 pCi/L 9.6% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 2.77 pCi/L — EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 1,000 people · 2013 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.283 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 1 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 0.3500 µg/L — GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2018 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Asbestos | 0.1600 MFL 2.3% of the EPA limit 7 MFL Highest in the city: GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 121,083 people · 2016 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| PFHXS | 0.0182 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0025 mg/L 17% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0112 mg/L — EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT · 1,000 people · 2024 | 7/7 | LCR |
| PFOS | 0.0071 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0062 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM · 383,612 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Salt Lake City
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SALT LAKE CITY WATER SYSTEM | 383,612 |
| GRANGER-HUNTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT | 121,083 |
| HOLLIDAY WATER COMPANY | 15,000 |
| SL COUNTY SERVICE AREA NO 3 - SNOWBIRD | 5,110 |
| VA MEDICAL CENTER SLC | 2,798 |
| EMIGRATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT | 1,000 |
| BOUNDARY SPRING WATER CO | 150 |
Frequently asked questions about Salt Lake City tap water
Is Salt Lake City tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 40 contaminants in the water serving Salt Lake City. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Salt Lake City?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Salt Lake City, Utah to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Salt Lake City's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Salt Lake City include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.