Arsenic in Utah Drinking Water
Utah has 2,385 public water systems. 1885 have recorded arsenic violations.
Total Systems
2,385
With Violations
1,885
EPA MCL
0.01
Population Served
3.9M
Arsenic in Utah: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
2,385
Systems with Violations
1,885
Lead Violations
15
Copper Violations
76
EPA Standard
0.01 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 0 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in Utah
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| BIG PLAINS WATER SSD - CEDAR POINT | 232 | 1897 |
| TOOELE CITY WATER SYSTEM | 37K | 1670 |
| ROCKLAND RANCH | 175 | 1661 |
| SNOWBASIN RESORT | 3K | 1492 |
| EUREKA TOWN | 760 | 1281 |
| M & J TRAILER HOME COMMUNITY | 27 | 1267 |
| HERRIMAN CITY MUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENT | 60K | 1210 |
| PINE VALLEY IRRIGATION CO | 50 | 1166 |
Health Effects of Arsenic Exposure
Cancer risk
Skin, bladder, and lung cancers with long-term exposure
Cardiovascular effects
Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
Diabetes risk
Associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Increased risk of cancer (skin, bladder, lung). Thickening and discoloration of skin; numbness; circulatory problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there arsenic in Utah water?
Utah has 2,385 public water systems. 1885 have recorded arsenic violations based on EPA SDWIS data. If you are on a private well, your water is not covered by these regulations and should be tested independently.
How can I check my Utah water for arsenic?
Search for your water system using the WaterCheck system lookup, or contact your utility and request a copy of your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR is published annually and lists all detected contaminants, their levels, and the EPA MCLs. For private wells, contact a state-certified lab for independent testing.
What is the EPA limit for arsenic?
The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic is 0.01 mg/L. Systems that exceed MCLs are required to notify customers and take corrective action.
Arsenic at a Glance
Source
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production wastes
How to Filter Arsenic
- +Reverse osmosis effectively removes arsenic
- +Distillation also removes arsenic
- +Standard carbon filters do NOT remove arsenic reliably
- +Test well water annually if on a private well