Salt Lake County tap water: hardness, PFAS and lead
Salt Lake County, Utah has about 1,216,274 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 39 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is Salt Lake City Water System, serving about 383,612 people from surface water.
✓ 0 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 2 of 6 sampled systemsHardness 136–571 mg/L, varies by area
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
How hard is Salt Lake County water?
Salt Lake City Water SystemMeasured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence
136–571 mg/L(varies by area; no single average published)
Big Cottonwood WTP: 136 mg/L (7.9 gpg)
City Creek WTP: 212 mg/L (12.4 gpg)
Parleys WTP: 175 mg/L (10.2 gpg)
City wells and springs: 154–571 mg/L
MWDSLS Little Cottonwood WTP (purchased): 152 mg/L (8.9 gpg)
MWDSLS Point of the Mountain WTP (purchased): 164 mg/L (9.6 gpg)
Jordan Valley WCD (purchased): 184 mg/L (10.8 gpg)
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
Softener size at 33.4 gpg
For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 39,980 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 40,000 grain. Hardness varies by area here, so this uses the harder plant's figure (33.4 gpg). If your address gets softer water, a smaller unit may do; check your area in the utility report or test your tap.
Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
The 6 biggest of 39 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.
Salt Lake City Water System
UTAH18026 · serves about 383,612 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (4 types)
Lead 90th percentile: 2.5 ppb (period starting 2022-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFHxS: highest sample 18.2 ppt (1 of 52 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFOS: highest sample 7.1 ppt (1 of 52 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFPeA: highest sample 6.2 ppt (1 of 52 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 5.7 ppt (1 of 52 samples); no federal limit
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.
Test your own tap
These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.
Common questions about Salt Lake County water
Is tap water in Salt Lake County safe to drink?
None of the 6 largest systems here have a health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021. Salt Lake City Water System's most recent lead 90th percentile was 2.5 ppb (2022), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.
How hard is the water in Salt Lake County?
Salt Lake City Water System reports hardness from 136 to 571 mg/L depending on where you live, with no single system-wide average, so check your area in its report or test your water. For a 3-person home at 33.4 gpg (the harder plant's figure, since your address may get either), our softener calculator suggests a 40,000 grain unit as a starting point.
Is there PFAS in Salt Lake County water?
2 of the 6 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and 2 results were above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.
Which water system serves my address in Salt Lake County?
Most homes are served by Salt Lake City Water System or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.
Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.