School District Report SCHOOL DISTRICT PFAS DETECTED

PFAS Detected in Salt Lake City School District (UT)

20 ZIP codes · 11 water systems · 7,014,315 people served · Updated 2026-07-19

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Salt Lake City School District: no EPA drinking-water violations recorded in the past five years.

Data: EPA SDWIS, NCES Last verified: 2026-07-19

B · 81
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
11
Water Systems
0
Violations (5yr)
0.0025 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
18
ZIPs with PFAS
Zone 2
Radon Risk

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Water Quality Overview

The Salt Lake City School District in Utah spans 20 ZIP codes served by 11 community water systems, providing water to approximately 7,014,315 people.

The average Home Safety Score across the district is B (81/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 73/100 .

Water quality in this district ranks better than 78% of ZIP codes nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.0025 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0025 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP codes exceeding EPA action level 0 of 20 -

PFAS Contamination

PFAS ("forever chemicals") detected in 18 of 20 ZIP codes in this district. One or more PFAS compounds exceed EPA maximum contaminant levels.

Detected compounds: PFHxS, PFOS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA.

Highest measured level: 0.0182 µg/L.

PFAS can accumulate in the body over time. Children's higher water intake relative to body weight makes them particularly susceptible. Reverse osmosis filters (NSF/ANSI 58) are the most effective at removing PFAS.

Learn more about PFAS in drinking water →

EPA Violation History

No EPA violations recorded across any water systems serving this school district in the past 5 years.

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate risk)

Water Quality by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Safety Score Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
84044 Magna B (83) 0 0 0.0017 mg/L No
84101 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84102 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84103 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84104 Salt Lake City B (78) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84105 Salt Lake City B (78) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84106 Salt Lake City B (78) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84108 Salt Lake City B (78) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84109 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84111 Salt Lake City B (78) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84112 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84113 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84114 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84115 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84116 Salt Lake City B (73) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84119 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84128 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84138 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84150 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No
84180 Salt Lake City B (83) 0 0 0.002506 mg/L No

Water Systems Serving This District

Water System Population Served Source ZIP Codes
Salt Lake City Water System 381,174 Surface water 84101, 84102, 84103 +16 more
Granger-hunter Improvement District 121,083 Surface water 84101, 84102, 84103 +16 more
WEST JORDAN CITY WATER SYSTEM 117,025 Surface water 84044
Jordan Valley Wcd 99,335 Surface water 84106, 84115, 84119
Taylorsville-bennion Id 67,098 Surface water 84119
University of Utah 57,080 Groundwater 84108, 84112, 84113
Magna Water District 32,100 Surface water 84044, 84116, 84128
South Salt Lake City Water System 23,600 Surface water 84106, 84115, 84119

11 water systems total serve this district.

Lead Risk Assessment

Lead risk: ELEVATED. 11 ZIP codes in this district have high lead exposure risk scores based on housing age and infrastructure.

Infrastructure Risk Factors

Risk Factor District Average Why It Matters
Housing built before 1986 64.4% Lead solder was used in plumbing until 1986
Housing built before 1950 23% Lead pipes were common before 1950
Lead service line probability 19.6% Estimated chance of lead pipes connecting homes to water mains
Average lead level (90th pctl) 0.0025 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L
Highest measured lead level 0.0025 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L

Schools built before 1986 are especially at risk. Lead can leach from older pipes, fixtures, and solder joints into drinking water — particularly when water sits in pipes overnight or over weekends.

Is the Water Safe at Salt Lake City School District Schools?

Several factors warrant attention for families in the Salt Lake City School District area:

  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in 18 of 20 ZIP codes. Some PFAS levels exceed EPA maximum contaminant levels.
  • 64.4% of buildings in this district predate 1986, increasing the risk of lead in school plumbing.

Important context: EPA compliance data measures water quality at the utility level. Individual school buildings — especially older ones — may have additional risks from internal plumbing, lead fixtures, and stagnant water in pipes.

What Parents Should Do

Testing

  1. Request your school's water testing results. Under the EPA's 3Ts program, schools are encouraged to test drinking water. Ask the Salt Lake City School District school board for the most recent results.
  2. Test your home water. If your home was built before 1986, lead may be present in your plumbing. Free or low-cost test kits are often available from your water utility.
  3. Ask about PFAS testing. PFAS have been detected in this district. Request specific PFAS testing results from your water utility.

Advocacy

  1. Attend school board meetings and ask about the district's water quality testing schedule and remediation plans.
  2. Request lead fixture replacement if your child's school was built before 1986 and hasn't upgraded its plumbing.

Resources

ZIP Code Reports for This District

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Address PFAS - If PFAS are detected in your area, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon block filter rated NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 can reduce levels significantly.
  5. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  6. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Salt Lake City School District schools?

Based on EPA data, water systems serving Salt Lake City School District have no health-based violations in the past 5 years. However, school buildings with older plumbing may still have localized issues. Testing at the tap (not just at the treatment plant) is important.

Does Salt Lake City School District test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Are there PFAS in Salt Lake City School District water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in 18 of 20 ZIP codes served by this district. PFAS are "forever chemicals" that do not break down and can accumulate in the body. The EPA has set maximum contaminant levels for certain PFAS compounds. Reverse osmosis filters are the most effective at removing PFAS from drinking water.

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Utah → Salt Lake City School District

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). PFAS Detected in Salt Lake City School District (UT). https://zipcheckup.com/schools/salt-lake-city-school-district-ut/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-schools-salt-lake-city-school-district-ut,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{PFAS Detected in Salt Lake City School District (UT)}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/salt-lake-city-school-district-ut/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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