Lead UT EPA VIOLATION

Lead in Drinking Water — Salt Lake City Department o...

Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities · Salt Lake City, UT · 381,174 people served

600 ppb

Highest Level Detected

15 ppb (action level)

EPA Limit

High

Health Risk Level

ZIP Codes Served

381,174

People Served

Reverse Osmosis or NSF 53 Carbon Block

Best Filter Method

Data: EPA SDWIS, ECHO, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report

Medical Disclaimer: This page provides environmental data and general health information from EPA and CDC sources. It is not medical advice. If you have health concerns related to your drinking water, consult a healthcare provider.

Lead Detected in Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities

Lead was detected at 600 ppb in the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities water system serving Salt Lake City (UT), exceeding the EPA limit of 15 ppb (action level).

This system serves approximately 381,174 people across 52 ZIP codes.

Data source: 2023 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) and EPA SDWIS/ECHO.

Detected Levels

Contaminant	Level Detected	EPA Limit	Status
Lead	600 ppb	15 ppb	Violation

Health Effects of Lead

Lead is a potent neurotoxin with no safe level of exposure. In children, lead exposure causes developmental delays, reduced IQ, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems. In adults, lead causes high blood pressure, kidney damage, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive problems. Pregnant women face increased risk of premature birth and reduced fetal growth. The CDC and EPA agree there is no safe blood lead level in children.

Source: CDC — Lead in Drinking Water; EPA.

EPA Standard

The EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for lead is 15 ppb (action level), governed by the Lead and Copper Rule (LCRR/LCRI). Water systems that exceed this limit must notify consumers and take corrective action.

What You Can Do

Run cold water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking — this flushes standing water that may have absorbed lead from pipes
Use only cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula — hot water dissolves lead faster
Install a point-of-use filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead removal
Consider a reverse osmosis (RO) system for comprehensive lead removal (certified to NSF 58)
Get your water tested — contact your utility or use an EPA-certified lab
If your home was built before 1986, have a licensed plumber inspect for lead service lines

Recommended Water Filters

The most effective treatment for lead removal is Reverse Osmosis or NSF 53 Carbon Block.

Filter Type	Effectiveness	NSF Standard	Notes
Reverse Osmosis (RO)	95-99%	NSF 58	Most effective; removes lead from the water molecule level
Carbon Block Filter	95-99%	NSF 53	Must be certified specifically for lead; not all carbon filters qualify
Distillation	99%+	NSF 62	Very effective but slow; best for small quantities

ZIP Codes Served by This System

Check water quality for your specific ZIP code:

Related Resources

Detected Levels

Contaminant	Level Detected	EPA Limit	Status
Lead	600 ppb	15 ppb	Violation

Recommended Water Filters

The most effective treatment for lead removal is Reverse Osmosis or NSF 53 Carbon Block.

Filter Type	Effectiveness	NSF Standard	Notes
Reverse Osmosis (RO)	95-99%	NSF 58	Most effective; removes lead from the water molecule level
Carbon Block Filter	95-99%	NSF 53	Must be certified specifically for lead; not all carbon filters qualify
Distillation	99%+	NSF 62	Very effective but slow; best for small quantities

ZIP Codes Served by This System

84101 84102 84103 84104 84105 84106 84107 84108 84109 84110 84111 84112 84113 84114 84115 84116 84117 84119 84120 84121 +32 more

Full Water System Profile: See all contaminants, violations, and lead levels for Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities.

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