Salt Lake City Department
of Public Utilities
the cleaner the sources, the better the final water quality. We
diligently monitor our source waters for activities and issues that
could negatively affect the water quality. Protecting water quality
is a shared responsibility between SLC Public Utilities, wholesale
water providers, visitors to our drinking water watersheds, and our
customers.
SURFACE WATER. Our primary surface waters are the mountain
streams City Creek, Parley’s Creek, Big Cottonwood Creek, and
Little Cottonwood Creek, which are in the protected watersheds
located north and east of Salt Lake City in the Wasatch Mountains.
In addition, we have invested in and receive treated water from
the Provo River watershed. SLC Public Utilities is extremely active
regarding protection of the watersheds; however, we recognize
that regulation alone is not enough. “Keep It Pure,” our watershed
motto, has helped to impress on our community the importance of
protecting our watersheds and water resources. Help us maintain
our water quality by following rules for the watershed and
stormwater protection.
SOURCE
TO
TAP
Quality Water for the Community
In Salt Lake City, we are fortunate to be able to turn our taps and have
high quality water for our needs. At SLC Public Utilities, we strive to
deliver the best drinking water possible; water that meets and exceeds
all state and federal regulations. Federal law requires that these
regulations are constantly updated. This involves years of research
and investigation to identify new contaminants, to revise limits on
existing contaminants, and to update regulations. SLC Public Utilities
will continue to support and contribute to ongoing research efforts
with the US-EPA, local and national agencies, and universities. We are
dedicated to providing you the best water quality based on the most
current regulations and scientific information. Our community’s water
health and safety are our primary concern. Hopefully we have gained
your confidence. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free
to contact our office.
Source Waters
2016 Consumer
Confidence Report
Cross Connection
Through our cross-connection control program we provide oversight
and monitor connections to our system to alleviate the possibility
of water back-flowing from residential, commercial, or industrial
consumers into our distribution system and to other customers.
You can help prevent back-flow contamination by monitoring your
own water use and connections within your home or business. For
information regarding cross-connection, visit www.deq.utah.
gov/ProgramsServices/programs/water/BackflowProgram/
index.htm.
Drinking Water Treatment
Surface water. SLC Public Utilities and our drinking water
wholesale suppliers collect surface water from mountain streams
and reservoirs. Like many public water systems around the country,
the surface water treatment for SLC Public Utilities uses a multi-step
conventional treatment process, including
Source Water
coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation,
Mountain Streams
& Reservoirs
filtration, and disinfection. The primary
disinfectant used is chlorine. After the water
leaves the treatment plants, we routinely
Chemical Addition
Coagulant – Ferric Chloride
collect samples throughout the distribution
Disinfectant - Chlorine
system to monitor the quality of water as
it travels through more than 1,300 miles of
Mixing & Coagulation
pipe to your tap.
Coagulant causes small particles to stick
SLC Public Utilities has multiple source waters and redundancy
throughout its system, including mountain streams, surface water
reservoirs, and a network of groundwater wells and springs. We
own and operate three surface water treatment plants and purchase
water from other water districts. At SLC Public Utilities, we consider
source water protection the first stage in the treatment process:
Flocculation &
Sedimentation
Larger particles (floc) settles out naturally
Filtration
Anthracite and sand filters
remove small particles
Fluoridation
Fluoride added per Salt Lake County,
Rule #33 http://slco.org/slcohealth/
envRegs/pdf/reg33.pdf.
Storage Reservoirs
& Distribution
Treated water to your tap
Conservation, Weather, and the
Future of Water Supply in Utah
The winter of 2015/2016 was another season of lower than average
stream flows. Additionally, SLC Public Utilities is engaged with
numerous stakeholders to understand and prepare for potential
alterations to our water supply due to climate change. Regardless
of snow totals, spring runoff amounts, or supply levels, remember:
we never have enough water to waste. Visit www.slcgov.com/
waterconservation to learn more.
Drinking Water Contaminants
Health Alert
Drinking water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds,
reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface
of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring
minerals and can pick up substances resulting from the presence
of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be
present in source water include microbial contaminants (viruses
and bacteria), inorganic contaminants (salts and metals),
pesticides and herbicides, organic chemicals (synthetic and volatile
organic chemicals), and radioactive contaminants. In order to
ensure that tap water is acceptable to drink, the US-EPA
prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain
contaminants in water provided by public water systems;
to learn more visit www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected
to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence
of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a
health risk. More information about contaminants and potential
health effects can be obtained by calling the US-EPA’s Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Our drinking water is treated and tested for more than 170
individual contaminants and meets all state and federal standards.
Last year we conducted more than 16,000 tests, all of which
were better than US-EPA and Utah DDW standards. The state
allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per
year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not
change frequently, so some of our data, though representative,
is more than one year old. The table provides a listing of some
of the compounds looked for routinely; for a complete list, visit
www.slcgov.com/utilities.
together and form larger particles
Groundwater. Because of SLC Public
Utilities’ excellent groundwater resources,
our groundwater does not require special
treatment. Similar to the filtration
process of surface water, groundwater
is continually filtered through a natural
process as it passes through the
subsurface geology. SLC Public Utilities
routinely monitors the quality of the
groundwater, and several years ago some
of our groundwater wells were identified
as being impacted by groundwater
contamination. As a result, these wells
were taken out of service pending
remediation of the groundwater and/or
groundwater treatment.
GROUNDWATER. SLC Public Utilities utilizes a network of springs
and groundwater wells to augment supply within our system. These
wells and springs are spread across the valley from Cottonwood
Heights to the mouth of City Creek Canyon. The quality of our
groundwater is affected by what happens on the surface above,
including on your own property. Salt Lake City zoning ordinance
21A.34.060 was adopted to help protect our groundwater
resources. Never dispose of chemicals or hazardous materials
on the ground, as these materials can migrate through soil and
pollute groundwater. Some SLC Public Utilities groundwater wells
have been affected by groundwater contamination and so have
been taken out of service, reducing our supply sources. SLC Public
Utilities remains a concerned and active stakeholder for sites where
groundwater contamination has been identified and is working
with Utah Department of Environmental Quality, US-EPA, and other
stakeholders to protect our citizens and their interests.
In addition to our routine monitoring, we also take part in federal
programs aimed to assist with development and refinement
of regulatory levels for possible contaminants. For example,
in 2013-2014 we participated in the US-EPA’s Un-Regulated
Contaminants Monitoring Rule. The results from that program
are available at www.slcgov.com/drinkingwater. In addition,
we are participating in a two-year sampling program under the
US-EPA’s Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
(LT2) to monitor for cryptosporidium and other disease-causing
microorganisms in our source waters. Results from the program
have been as expected and have not raised concerns.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking
water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons
such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons
who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or
other immune system disorders, some elderly persons, and infants
may be particularly at risk. These people should seek advice about
drinking water from their health care providers. US-EPA/Center for
Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen
the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial
contaminants are available by calling the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Attencion!
El informe contiene información importante sobre la calidad del
agua en su comunidad. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo
entienda bien.
This Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is a snapshot of 2015 water
quality data. Included are details about where our water comes from,
what it contains, and how it compares to United States Environmental
Protection Agency (US-EPA) and State of Utah Division of Drinking
Water (Utah DDW) standards. Salt Lake City Public Utilities (SLC Public
Utilities) is committed to providing you this information because
informed customers are our best allies when it comes to protecting
and respecting our critical water resources. Visit www.slcgov.com/
drinkingwater for an online version.
SLC Public Utilities Contact Information
Customer Service: SLC Public Utilities 24-hour Emergency: Water Quality Division:
or 801-483-6864
801-483-6900
801-483-6700
801-483-6832 Additional Contacts:
Utah Division of Drinking Water:
Salt Lake County Health Department:
Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 801-536-4200
385-468-3860
800-426-4791
SALT LAKE CITY DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
1530 South West Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
www.slcgov.com/utilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Get involved! We encourage your participation in decisions that affect
our community’s drinking water. Consider attending the Public Utilities
Advisory Committee meetings, held the fourth Thursday of each month
at 7:30 a.m. at 1530 South West Temple; your presence is welcome.
2016 WATER QUALITY REPORT* (2015 Data)
TREATED SURFACE WATER SOURCES
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDSa
MCL or TT
Parleys
Big
City Creek
Metro
Metro
Jordan
Standardsa
Cottonwood Canyon
Little
Point of the Valley
Cottonwood
Mountain
Water Treatment Water Treatment
Range on
Salt Lake
City Wells
Source of Contaminant
Lead and copper testing. Lead in drinking water is a topic of discussion
at a national level. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious
health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead
in drinking water is primarily caused by leaching from plumbing materials
and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. SLC
Public Utilities removed lead pipes from the drinking water distribution
system many years ago, but does not control the variety of materials
used in household plumbing components. If you are concerned about
lead in your water, you may want to have your water tested. Information
on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to
minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
1-800-426-4791, or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. The Utah
DDW and the US-EPA have excellent websites regarding lead in drinking
water at www.deq.utah.gov/Pollutants/L/lead/LeadinWater.
htm and www.epa.gov/your-drinking-water/basic-informationabout-lead-drinking-water. If you are concerned about the potential
for lead contamination, a simple step you can take is to flush your tap for
30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking if the
water has been sitting in the line for several hours.
Antimony
6 ppb
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
0.06
ND
Erosion of natural deposits
Arsenic
10 ppb
ND
1
ND
ND
1.7
1.2
ND-1.4
Erosion of natural deposits
Barium
2000 ppb
73 85 25 26.9 ND
71 15-105
Erosion of natural deposits
Cadmium
5 ppb
ND
ND
ND
ND
0.12 ND
ND
Corrosion of galvanized pipes
Chromium
100 ppb
ND
ND
ND
3.8
ND
0.04
ND
Discharge from steel and pulp mills
Cyanide
200 ppb
ND
2
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
Discharge from steel/metal factories
Fluoride 4000 ppb
770
710 720 667 676
400 ND-300 Erosion of natural deposits
Nickel
100 ppb
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND - 10
Erosion of natural deposits
Nitrate
10 ppm
ND
1.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
1.1
0.9 - 4
Fertilizer runoff, septic tanks
Selenium
50 ppb
0.6 1.9 0.6 ND ND
0.7 0.7-2.2
Mine Discharge
Thallium
2 ppb
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND - 0.4 Leaching from ore processing
Under the US-EPA Lead and Copper Rule (www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/
lead-and-copper-rule), public water systems such as SLC Public Utilities
take part in annual to triennial lead and copper sampling and analysis
from consumers’ homes. SLC Public Utilities is on the three-year schedule;
sampling and analysis was most recently completed in 2015. Our
sampling indicated that concentrations of lead and copper were below
US-EPA action levels (refer to the accompanying table), and these results
are consistent with historical levels. If you are interested in taking part in
the next round of lead and copper sampling (to be completed in 2018),
please visit www.slcgov.com/drinkingwater for more information.
Homes will be selected based on the age and type of plumbing materials
present as well as a distribution of locations spread throughout our water
system.
Finished Water Annual Average NTU
Fluoride. Voters in Salt Lake County passed Rule #33 mandating
Regulated Public Water Suppliers to fluoridate the water supplied to their
customers, and Salt Lake Valley Health Department is responsible for
implementation of this rule. Fluoride is added to our water supply with
a finished water goal of 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/l). Please check
with your health care provider for specifics on fluoride intake for you,
your infant, and your family. For more information please visit
www.slco.org/slcohealth/envRegs/pdf/reg33.pdf.
What is our water hardness? Water hardness is a measure of mineral
content of the water, mostly composed of calcium carbonate. Hardness is
an aesthetic issue; it may make cleaning harder and leave spots behind.
Our water hardness varies throughout the year depending on source. We
generally recommend 13 grains per gallon hardness as the setting on
water softeners.
Is home treatment necessary? The water we deliver to your residence
or business meets all state and federal requirements. Additional treatment
for aesthetic qualities is an option, not a necessity. If you install treatment
devices, you are responsible for their operation and maintenance.
Improper maintenance can affect your water quality.
b
TURBIDITY** (CLARITY) NTU’S
0.04 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.03
0.3-1.1
Soil runoff
Erosion of natural deposits
RADIONUCLIDES pCi/L
Gross Alpha
15 pCi/L
ND ND ND ND ND
2.4
ND-4.7
Radium 228
5 pCi/L
ND ND ND ND ND 0.7
0.08-1.4 Erosion of natural deposits
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM COMPLIANCE
Microbials
Presence/Absence
e-coli
0%
# Samples
Highest Monthly %
% Positive
2,354
0%
0%
Feces of humans and animals
Total Coliform
<5%
2,354
0.09%
0.53%
Naturally occuring and feces of
humans and animals
DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS
SLC Avgb SLC Max SLC Min Metro Metro Jordan
LCW Avg POMW Avg Avg
Total Haloacetic Acids
60 ppb
28
56
6
13
32
17
—
By-product of chlorination
Total Trihalomethanes
80 ppb
38
61
9
17
31
25
—
By-product of chlorination
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM LEAD/COPPERc Action Leveld
# Samples 90th percentilee 90th percentilee
before flushing before line flushing after line flushing
Lead
15 ppb
Copper
1300 ppb
57
6.8
1.26
Corrosion of household plumbing
57
243.4
59.24
Corrosion of household plumbing
NATIONAL SECONDARY DRINKING WATER STANDARDSa
Secondary MCL
Aluminum
200 ppb
70
Chloride
250 ppm
Household Hazardous Waste disposal: Prescription and overthe-counter medicines should not be flushed down the toilet. These
substances pass through the sewer treatment plants and can affect waters
downstream. Dispose of these products through collection boxes at
Pioneer Police District Office, 1040 West 700 South, or at the Public Safety
Complex, 475 South 300 East. For additional disposal sites visit www.
useonlyasdirected.org. Visit www.slcohealth.org/programs/
waterQualHazWaste/solidHazWaste/householdHazWaste/index.
html for information on disposing of unwanted materials not suitable
for trash collection, such as garden products, insecticides, and household
cleaning products.
Iron
800 South 500 East artesian well and Liberty Park artesian
drinking fountain. Although not part of the SLC Public Utilities
system, the 800 South 500 East artesian well and the Liberty Park artesian
drinking fountain (located in the southeast corner of the park) are
routinely monitored by our staff. These natural water sources meet
federal and state requirements for drinking water. However, low levels
of perchlorate, a compound that may be naturally occurring or related
to explosives manufacturing, have been detected in the 800 South 500
East artesian well. The levels detected are below what the US-EPA
considers a concern and this compound is not currently regulated in
Utah. Visit www.slcgov.com/ArtesianWells for more information.
Alkalinity as CaCo3
ur-ppm
230 199 212 108.2 116
118
121-263 Erosion of natural deposits
Bromide
ur-ppm
ND ND ND
ND
ND-0.06 Erosion of natural deposits
Calcium
ur-ppm
79.8 75.9 58.1 — —
49
33.7-144 Erosion of natural deposits
Hardness as CaCO3
ur-ppm
263 292 212 118.2 123.4 161
137-526 Erosion of natural deposits
grains/gallon
calculated
15.4 17.1 12.4
6.9 7.2 9.4
8-30.7
Erosion of natural deposits
Non-Carbonate
calculated
33 10 7.1
43
16-263
Erosion of natural deposits
Magnesium
ur-ppm
15.5 24.9 16.3 — —
14
12.8-44.9 Erosion of natural deposits
Phosphate
ur-ppb
ND 10 ND ND ND
3
ND-20
Erosion of natural deposits
Is bottled water better? Bottled water is more expensive and less
environmentally-friendly than tap water. The United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) requirements on bottled water are less stringent
than the US-EPA regulations governing public water supply drinking
water. Call US-EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 for
more information.
Potassium
ur-ppm
1.5 2.9 0.5 —
—
4
1.4-3.3
Erosion of natural deposits
Sodium
ur-ppm
60.1 41.6 7.1
21.9 13.9 18.2
9.8-63.5 Erosion of natural deposits
Specific Conductance
μS/cm
889 251 467
388
402
249-931 Erosion of natural deposits
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
ur-ppm
1.4 1.6 2.11 1.4
UV-254
ur-1/cm
0.02 ND 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02
How can I get a private home or well tested? Private wells are not
tested by SLC Public Utilities; they are your responsibility. A minimal test
includes bacteriology and nitrates. Keep safe and test your well every
three years.
Private homes and internal plumbing are not tested by SLC Public Utilities;
they are your responsibility. If needed, testing services are available
at local analytical laboratories. Please refer to www.deq.utah.gov/
Pollutants/L/lead/LeadinWater.htm for a list of certified analytical
laboratories. SLC Public Utilities will consult with you regarding home
testing; please call with questions or concerns.
Stormwater. At SLC Public Utilities, we monitor the quality of our
stormwater discharges to ensure that stormwater, as well as the creeks
and rivers that it drains to, is as clean as possible. Please help us in this
endeavor by preventing pollution from flowing off of your property and
going into the storm drain. “We All Live Downstream” is a motto you may
have heard; in practice it means we all need to keep refuse, leaves, grass,
debris, and other pollutants out of the stormwater. If you observe
a stormwater issue or illicit discharge, please report the incident to
801-483-6700 (SLC Public Utilities 24-hour dispatch) or 801-580-6681
(Salt Lake County Health Department 24-hour hot line).
ND
70
—
—
ND
ND-80
Treatment chemicals
131 96 9
34 34.8 38 13-160
Erosion of natural deposits
300 ppb
ND
20
ND
—
—
1
ND-50
Erosion of natural deposits
Manganese
50 ppb
0.5
0.5
ND
—
—
1
ND-7.4
Erosion of natural deposits
pH (in Units)c
6.5-8.5
7.82 7.93 8.11 7.93
8.12 7.8
7.32-8.4 Erosion of natural deposits
Sulfate
250 ppm
35 10 40.8
41.4 36
29-287
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
500 ppm
424 496 172
226
242 238
176-708 Erosion of natural deposits
Zinc
500 ppb
ND
—
—
ND-20
77 ND
ND
0.2
Erosion of natural deposits
Erosion of natural deposits
ADDITIONAL DATA
ND ND
93 0
ND ND 413
ND-0.5
Decomposition of organic material
ND-0.04 Decomposition of organic material
* For full list visit our website: www.slcgov.com/utilities
** SLC Public Utilities sets a goal of 0.1 NTU turbidity. All SLC Water Treatment Plants received the Partnership for Safe Water 15-Year Director’s Award for superior water quality.
HOW TO READ THE CHART
O
ur water is routinely tested. The chart lists the most recent test results for the facilities listed and indicates the most likely
source of the contaminant. The well data is a range of lowest and highest levels for wells.
MCL ND NTU pCi/L
ppb a
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level: highest level of
contaminant allowed in drinking water
Non detected: less than the analytical method can see
Nephelometric Turbidity Units (turbidity is cloudiness)
Picocuries per liter (radioactivity unit)
Parts per billion (ug/l, 1 penny in $10 million)
The US-EPA sets regulatory limits for the
amounts of certain contaminants in water
provided by public water systems.
For more information, visit
www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations
ppm TT ur μS/cm —
Parts per million (mg/l, 1 penny in $10,000)
Treatment Technique
Unregulated with no EPA standard set
Micro Siemens/centimeter
Not analyzed at location this reporting year
b
Highest monthly average or annual average
c
Most recent results for lead and copper
are from 2015, additional sampling will be
performed in 2018.
d
Exceedance of 90th Percentile Action Level for
Lead and Copper would require additional
actions be taken action.
e
90% of the results are less than or equal to
this concentration.