Is Utah Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Water quality data for 19 cities across Utah. Find your city below.

Water quality in Utah varies significantly from city to city. Across 19 cities we track, hardness ranges from 187 PPM in West Jordan to 280 PPM in Tooele, with a statewide average of 241 PPM. 19 of 19 cities have hard water above 120 PPM where a water softener provides measurable benefits.

1 Utah cities have forever chemicals (PFAS) above the EPA's 2024 limit of 4 parts per trillion: Salt Lake City (37.2 ppt). A reverse osmosis system or NSF P473-certified filter can reduce PFAS to safe levels.

19
Cities
241
Avg Hardness (PPM)
280
Hardest City (PPM)

Complete Utah Guide

Statewide water quality overview, costs, and treatment recommendations.

Well Water in Utah

Testing, treatment, and common issues for private wells.

Hardest Water Rankings

Utah cities ranked by water hardness level.

City Treatment Guides

Sized recommendations based on each city's specific water data.

Salt Lake City

250 PPM · 37.2 ppt PFAS 🧂 Best Softener

City Comparisons

Tooele vs West Jordan

Side-by-side water quality comparison.

Tooele vs Provo South

Side-by-side water quality comparison.

Provo South vs St George

Side-by-side water quality comparison.

Utah Cities by Water Hardness

CityHardness (PPM)LevelPFAS (ppt)Source
Tooele 280 Extremely Hard 0 Vernon Reservoir & wells
Provo South 270 Extremely Hard 0 Provo River + wells
St. George 266 Extremely Hard 0 Quail Creek Reservoir, Sand Hollow
Layton 265 Extremely Hard 0 Weber Basin, Davis County wells
Clearfield 260 Extremely Hard 0 Weber Basin Water Conservancy
West Valley City 251 Extremely Hard 0 Jordan Valley Water Conservancy, wells
Salt Lake City 250 Extremely Hard 37.2 Mountain streams + wells
Cottonwood Heights 250 Extremely Hard 0 Big Cottonwood Creek + wells
Bountiful 245 Very Hard 6.28 East Canyon & local wells
Ogden 240 Very Hard 0 Pineview Reservoir, springs
Herriman 240 Very Hard 10.55 Jordan Valley Water Conservancy
Provo 235 Very Hard 0 Deer Creek Reservoir, groundwater
Riverton 235 Very Hard 0 Jordan Valley Water system
Lehi 230 Very Hard 0 Jordan Valley Water Conservancy & we
Draper 225 Very Hard 0 Local wells & JVWCD
Sandy 222 Very Hard 0 Little Cottonwood Canyon, wells
Logan 210 Very Hard 0 Logan River & DeWitt Spring
Orem 209 Very Hard 0 Provo River, groundwater
West Jordan 187 Very Hard 11.65 Jordan River, groundwater

Frequently Asked Questions About Utah Water

Is Utah tap water safe to drink?
Utah tap water meets EPA legal standards in most cities. 1 cities have PFAS levels above the EPA health advisory of 4 ppt. The statewide average hardness of 241 PPM means most homes deal with hard water effects like scale buildup, though hardness is not a health concern. Check your specific city above for detailed data.
Do I need a water softener in Utah?
Most Utah cities would benefit from a water softener. The state average is 241 PPM, and 100% of cities exceed 120 PPM where softener benefits become measurable. A salt-based softener reduces scale damage, energy waste, and product use.
Which Utah city has the hardest water?
Tooele has the hardest water in Utah at 280 PPM (16.4 GPG). Provo South is second at 270 PPM. See the full ranking.
What contaminants are in Utah water?
The most common concerns across Utah are hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium), and PFAS (forever chemicals) detected in 1 cities. Each city has different levels - check your city above for specific contaminant data.
How much does a water softener cost in Utah?
A whole-house water softener for a typical Utah home costs $800-$2,500 installed, depending on capacity and brand. At 241 PPM average hardness, most homes need a 32,000-48,000 grain system. Full cost breakdown.

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Guides

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Common Issues

Hard Water PFAS Lead Chlorine