The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) provides drinking water data on PFAS from three monitoring programs. We update this map at least once a year, usually in the first part of the year. So far, the samples we have collected show that PFAS is either not found or only in very small amounts in Utah’s drinking water. More details are available at ddwpfas.utah.gov.
See which systems have conducted sampling, where sampling occurred, and sample results on the our map.
Current monitoring programs
On April 26, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new rule on PFAS concentration level limits to keep our drinking water safe from harmful chemicals. By 2027, all water systems must check for PFAS to make sure they meet these limits. The Utah Division of Drinking Water (DDW) is helping Utah water systems complete these checks.
Additionally, there is a program called UCMR5, happening from 2023 to 2025. The EPA requires water systems that serve more than 3,300 people and some smaller ones to check for 29 types of PFAS. The results will be updated on this map yearly in the first part of the year.
Almost all of the water samples collected in Utah have shown very low levels of PFAS. Most of the time, the amount of PFAS was so small that it was below the method detection limit (MDL) or within the range between the MDL and the method reporting limit (MRL). The MDL is the value below which a chemical can’t be reliably detected, while the MRL is the concentration level at which a chemical can be determined with high confidence.
When a chemical is detected between the MDL and MRL, it’s marked with a “J” next to the value. This “J” indicates that the lab is sure the chemical is present but lacks confidence in its concentration. Therefore, the reported number is an estimate. If the results were below the MDL, the value is stated as less than the MDL (e.g., <MDL).
Past monitoring
From 2013 to 2015 there was a PFAS monitoring program called UCMR3. At that time, the methods to find PFAS had higher limits, and there were no detections of PFAS in Utah water systems during that time ; therefore, these data are not shown on this map. Find the UCMR3 data here.
In 2020, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) made a plan to look for PFAS in Utah. Even though PFAS isn’t made in Utah, some industries might use it. We chose places to test based on potential risks in wells and surface water sources. The results so far show low amounts of PFAS in Utah’s drinking water with minimal potential for negative health effects.
See the lab results for a specific place on the map. Email [email protected] to get a copy of the results with latitude and longitude information. In the email body, state you want the PFAS sampling location information.
Questions?
Ask your water provider or contact the Division of Drinking Water at [email protected].