Sweetwater County, Wyoming — public water systems

How does Sweetwater County compare with other Wyoming counties?

Sweetwater County has the 8th-most active public water systems among the 33 counties listed for active Wyoming systems in EPA records; among the 23 with 3 or more systems, the median has 27. Its systems report 53,453 people served in total, the 4th-largest county figure in the state and 8.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 1,215 people, about 45% above the Wyoming average of 838. 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 Sweetwater County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Sweetwater County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (21, 48%), groundwater (13, 30%), surface water (9, 20%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 2.3%). Overall, 32% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 68% on surface water, compared with 83% and 17% across Wyoming. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, City of Rock Springs, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Sweetwater County?

Sweetwater County's active systems break down as 26 community systems (59%), 11 non-transient non-community systems (25%) and 7 transient non-community systems (16%). 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 (68%), local government (25%), state government (4.5%) and public/private partnership (2.3%).