Is there PFAS in Salt Lake City Water System water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Salt Lake City Water System averaged 18.2 ppt of PFHxS at its worst sampling point, 1.8 times the EPA limit of 10 ppt.
Salt Lake City Water System
Serves 383,612 people · 52 PFOA samples from 22 sampling points · Oct 2023 to Oct 2024
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
not detected
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
7.1 ppt avg
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
18.2 ppt avg
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
1.8 avg
Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA.
Salt Lake City Water System is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, serving about 383,612 people, including Bountiful, Magna, Midvale, North Salt Lake, Sandy, Salt Lake City. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 52 times across 22 sampling points between Oct 2023 and Oct 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: NEtFOSAA, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, NMeFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, PFHpS, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, 8:2 FTS, PFDA, PFMPA, PFDoA, PFOA, PFBS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFNA, PFHpA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 42.8 ppb, detected in 25 of 52 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Utah
All 129 tested systems in Utah
ZIP codes served
84010 84044 84047 84054 84092 84093 84101 84102 84103 84104 84105 84106 84107 84108 84109 84111 84112 84113 84115 84116 84117 84119 84120 84121 84124 84128 84138 84143 84150
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Salt Lake City Water System water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID UTAH18026. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/utah/salt-lake-city-water-system/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID UTAH18026). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
