Water Quality Report 2024

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH WATER SYSTEM, NO. 18057

We're pleased to present to you this year's Annual Drinking Water Quality Report as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This report is designed to provide details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. This report is a snapshot of last year's water quality. The University of Utah Public Water system is designated as a consecutive connection to Salt Lake City’s public water system as we purchase all our drinking water from Salt Lake City. We are pleased to report that our drinking water meets federal and state requirements.

This report includes the results of our required testing performed between January 1 and December 31, 2024. We’ve also included the water quality data provided by Salt Lake City as they are our water source. All drinking water, including bottled water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some constituents. It's important to remember that the presence of these constituents does not necessarily pose a health risk.

DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-4791).

WHY ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN MY DRINKING WATER?

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity: microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife; inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming; pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses; organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems; and radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR LEAD

Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines, building and home plumbing. The University of Utah Public Water System is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes within the system. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute credited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact the water purveyor, listed below. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORIES

The University of Utah Public Water System has completed an initial lead service line inventory. This inventory includes information on the service line material that connects water mains to buildings/houses. This inventory can be accessed at https://facilities.utah.edu/water-quality/

RESULTS OF LEAD AND COPPER SAMPLES COLLECTED

30 samples were collected during the summer of 2024, testing for lead and copper levels in the drinking water in multiple buildings. Sampling results can be obtained by visiting https://facilities.utah.edu/water-quality https://facilities.utah.edu/water-quality.

CROSS CONNECTIONS AND BACKFLOWS

One of our responsibilities as a public water system is to protect our drinking water supply from the possibility of contamination. Cross connections are not allowed unless controlled by an approved and properly operating backflow prevention assembly or device.

A cross connection is any physical connection or arrangement of piping or fixtures which may allow non-potable water or industrial fluids or other material of questionable quality to come into contact with potable water inside a water distribution system. Backflow is the reversal of flow from a residential or building’s plumbing system back into the public drinking water system. A backflow incident could occur if the water system pressure decreases or the customer’s water pressure is higher than the water systems pressure. A backflow incident could carry pollutants or contaminants into our public drinking water system making it unsafe to drink.

The Plumbing Code and the Utah Public Drinking Water Rules require that all cross connections be eliminated or protected against backflow by installing an approved backflow device or assembly that will ensure that no impurities or contaminants are introduced to the public drinking water supply. Backflows are required to be inspected and tested annually.

For more information please contact:

Steffanie Brown, P.E.
University of Utah, Facility Engineering
1795 E South Campus Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Phone: 801‐587‐8089
Email: steffanie.brown@fm.utah.edu

MICROBIOLOGICAL

LEAD AND COPPER

REGULATED CONTAMINANTS

 

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS

IMPORTANT DRINKING WATER DEFINITIONS