Water System Report UT

University of Utah

EPA ID: UTAH18057 · 57,080 people served · 9 ZIP codes

University of Utah carries zero EPA violations in five years — a spotless record for a utility serving 57,080 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

57,080
People Served
9
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$644K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 9 (2022) to 3 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for University of Utah Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$120,469
Median Household Income
135,730
Service Area Population
15%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
69%
Pre-1986 Housing

The University of Utah serves a community with a median household income of $120,469 and an estimated 135,730 residents across its service area. Approximately 69% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

University of Utah's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Salt Lake County, Utah rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

49 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
20 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 71% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 20 detections recorded. 10 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Utah

Saratoga Springs City
58,000 people
B 1 violation
Logan City Water System
55,540 people
B 1 violation
B 6 violations
Eagle Mountain City
61,266 people
B 18 violations
Spanish Fork City
47,169 people
C 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $800
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $333
Water Filtration $200
Total Estimated Cost $1,733

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,733 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

University of Utah (EPA ID: UTAH18057) is a community water system in Utah that serves approximately 57,080 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your 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.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 6 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for University of Utah (UTAH18057) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is University of Utah water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, University of Utah has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does University of Utah serve?

University of Utah serves approximately 57,080 people across 9 ZIP codes in Utah.

Where does University of Utah get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
10
Unknown Material
107
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 57,080
Reported to Utah

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
University of Utah meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does University of Utah serve?
University of Utah serves approximately 57,080 people with drinking water across 9 ZIP codes.
What is University of Utah's water source?
University of Utah draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of University of Utah's service area?
The University of Utah service area has a median household income of $120,469. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does University of Utah get its water?
University of Utah's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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