Salt Lake County, Utah — public water systems

How does Salt Lake County compare with other Utah counties?

Salt Lake County has the 3rd-most active public water systems among the 78 counties listed for active Utah systems in EPA records; among the 35 with 3 or more systems, the median has 26. Its systems report 1,465,589 people served in total, the largest county figure in the state and 37% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 19,034 people, about 5.5 times the Utah average of 3,458. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Salt Lake County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Salt Lake County's active systems draw on groundwater (46, 60%), purchased surface water (23, 30%), surface water (5, 6.5%) and purchased groundwater (2, 2.6%). Overall, 64% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 36% on surface water, compared with 87% and 13% across Utah. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Salt Lake City Water System, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Salt Lake County?

Salt Lake County's active systems break down as 39 community systems (51%), 14 non-transient non-community systems (18%) and 24 transient non-community systems (31%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (58%), local government (30%), federal government (9.1%) and state government (2.6%).