Water by zip · 84101
Salt Lake City water
Salt Lake City draws most of its water from the Wasatch canyons, treated at three surface plants and blended with wells, springs, and purchased supply. The 2024 report states the city's water surpasses the quality standards set by the EPA and state agencies. Like most Wasatch Front water, it carries dissolved minerals from the mountains it runs through.
Your water system
Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities
Source: Mountain surface water from Wasatch canyon streams and reservoirs treated at three plants, plus groundwater wells and springs, supplemented by purchased water from the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy and Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. Public water system ID UTAH18026.
Salt Lake City reports total hardness of 132 to 194 ppm as calcium carbonate, roughly 7.7 to 11.4 grains per gallon depending on the source.
What stands out
Where it comes from
Surface water from City Creek and other canyons feeds three treatment plants, blended with groundwater wells and springs and water purchased from regional districts.
Minerals in the water
Total dissolved solids measured 230 to 328 ppm across the surface sources, well under the 2000 ppm standard. The chlorine residual averaged 0.59 ppm against a 4 ppm limit.
Lead and copper
The 2024 report lists a lead 90th-percentile of 3.79 ppb and copper of 293 ppb before flushing, both below the federal action levels of 15 ppb and 1300 ppb.
Hard like the region
Total hardness ran 132 to 194 ppm as calcium carbonate, which the city calculates as 7.7 to 11.4 grains per gallon, depending on the source.
This is a plain-language summary, not a substitute for your utility's official report. Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities reports meeting federal drinking-water standards. For the full, current numbers, read the official report linked above.
What helps
What we would do about it.
For what you drink, a countertop drinking ionizer gives you control over taste and mineral balance, while a whole-home system with salt-free conditioning helps with hardness and chlorine throughout the house. Stop by The Well for a free water test so you can see your own numbers before deciding.