We read 16 results from Salt Lake City Water System’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 5 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 381,174 people · Water system ID UTAH18026 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of 53 homes tested · printed as 302 ppb · sampled 2024 · Customer taps (first-liter samples) · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.3 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range 0.6 to 3.8 · SLC wells & springs · 2025 report, page 8 | 3.8 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of 53 homes tested · sampled 2024 · Customer taps (first-liter samples) · 2025 report, page 5 | 2.6 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal13x the health goal |
| Radium-228highest measured · range 0.25 to 1.04 · SLC wells & springs · 2025 report, page 8 | 1.04 pCi/L | 0.02 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goal55x the health goal |
| Total dissolved solidshighest measured · range 236 to 796 · SLC wells & springs, highest of 4 sources · 2025 report, page 6 | 796 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.6x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Chlorideas reported · Parleys WTP, highest of 3 sources · 2025 report, page 7 | 31.1 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorineaverage · range ND to 1.44 · SLC distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 0.64 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)average · range 12.6 to 48 · SLC distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 26.5 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)average · range 11.8 to 75.6 · SLC distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 36.7 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range ND to 0.34 · SLC wells & springs, highest of 4 sources · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.34 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range ND to 1.8 · SLC wells & springs, highest of 4 sources · 2025 report, page 6 | 1.8 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| pHhighest measured · range 7.19 to 8.24 · SLC wells & springs, highest of 4 sources · 2025 report, page 7 | 8.24 | — | — | Normal range |
| Sulfatehighest measured · range ND to 214 · SLC wells & springs, highest of 4 sources · 2025 report, page 6 | 214 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | Not detected | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Not detected |
| Hardnesshighest measured · range 9.01 to 33.4 · SLC wells & springs, highest of 4 sources · 2025 report, page 7 | 33.4 gpg (571 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 11 to 63.4 · SLC wells & springs, highest of 4 sources · 2025 report, page 6 | 63.4 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Salt Lake City Water System’s water between Oct 2023 and Oct 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOS7.1 pptFound in 1 of 52 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS18.2 pptFound in 1 of 52 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium42.8 ppbFound in 25 of 52 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Copper, Lead
What removes it: Reverse osmosis or Certified carbon block or RO.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium-228
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Salty taste / high TDS
Found: Total dissolved solids
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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