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Utah Drinking Water Standards
EPA Announces Arsenic Standard of 10 ppb. Must be met by January 2006
Drinking water may be contaminated by a variety of biological, chemical or radiologic agents. To help safeguard consumer health, the federal government has set standards for over 80 potential drinking water contaminants. For a summary of current federal standards, and associated health risks, see US EPA Current Drinking Water Standards. For more detailed background information on these contaminants see Drinking Water Contaminants (US EPA).
Water suppliers in Utah must conform to Utah Rule R309-200. Drinking Water Standards. Utah's quality standards are consistent with federal standards. However, please note the following:
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Utah has a primary standard for TDS (Total Dissolved Solids). The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for TDS is 2000 milligrams/liter (abbreviated as 2000 mg/l). Additionally, if TDS level is greater than 1000 mg/l, a water supplier must satisfactorily demonstrate that no better water is available. (The federal government has a secondary, or aesthetic, standard for TDS of 500 mg/l.)
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Utah has a primary standard for sulfate. The MCL for sulfate is 1000 mg/l. If the sulfate level is above 500 mg/l the water supplier must satisfactory demonstrate that no better water is available and the water shall not be available for human consumption from commercial establishments. (The federal government has a secondary, or aesthetic, standard for sulfate of 250 mg/l.)
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There are currently no federal or state standards for sodium or nickel. However, Utah rules require that these contaminants be routinely monitored. For further information see Sodium in Drinking Water (US EPA) and Consumer Fact Sheet on Nickel (US EPA)
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Public water systems in Utah are not required to collect samples for the following organic chemicals: 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane(DBCP); Dioxin(2,3,7,8-TCDD); Diquat; Endothall; Ethelyne dibromide; Glyphosate. US EPA has granted a waiver to Utah for these particular chemicals.
