Culinary Water

Providing the best water quality possible is a goal of Public Works. We work hard to protect your water resources and to ensure your drinking water meets the highest standards. We want to meet your expectations but cannot identify issues without your help. If you have water quality concerns please call them in; we are more than happy to speak you. 

Drinking Water Sources

Saratoga Springs relies on several sources from its water needs. Saratoga receives treated water from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District which can provide a combination of both groundwater and surface water. The City also pumps groundwater from five deep wells. Groundwater from these wells is pumped to the surface from underground aquifers located at more than a hundred feet below the earth’s surface. Water generated by snow melt in the recharge zone along the east side of Utah Lake helps recharge these aquifers.

Water Quality

The Saratoga Springs Water Department monitors the drinking water for safety by sampling and analyzing for a wide range of Federal and State regulated contaminants, compounds, and analytes (e.g., metals, radionuclides, microbials, disinfection byproducts, volatile organic compounds). In addition, samples are collected from 20 locations throughout the City every month to ensure there are no detectable levels of harmful bacteria or chemicals.

The average PH level for drinking water in the City Drinking Water system is 7.6. Water hardness tests indicate that the City averages 142 parts per million (ppm) as calcium carbonate or 8.3 grains per gallon (gpg); this means that the City has moderately hard water.

Fluoride 

Fluoride is not added to the City’s drinking water at this time.

Odors

One of the most common sources of drinking water odors we see are caused by homeowners hot water heaters. The cause of this is harmless anaerobic bacteria that exists naturally in our groundwater. It can react with the magnesium and aluminum sacrificial anodes that come with most water heaters to produce hydrogen sulfide gas making the classic rotten egg odor. It’s not the fault of the water heater manufacturer; it’s just a condition that some parts of the country experience due to their local water chemistry.

Another common source is drains in the home. This can be caused by grease and other debris that has become clogged in pipes where bacteria builds up and an odor is released. It can also be from sewer gas that rises up through drains where there is an empty drain trap. Adding water to the drain can help.

Water Pressure

The City is divided into 5 pressure zones; each zone has a water tank and wells or booster stations that supply water to that tank. Water lines for all the zones are interconnected so that water may be moved from one area to another depending on the demand. The zones are separated by pressure reducing valves (PRVs). These valves keep water pressure from becoming excessive in the lower zones. Even with these valves in place, pressures can vary from 40 pounds per square inch (psi) to 150 psi, depending on where you live in a zone. Residents who live at the bottom of these pressure zones can experience water pressures in excess of 120 psi. These pressures can damage plumbing inside the home and pipes and valves in your sprinkler system if they are not protected by a pressure reducing valve (PRV).

There are several steps that homeowners should take to help protect the water system inside and outside their home.

  • Check the water pressure at your home. The Public Works Department can assist you with this if you call and request assistance.
  • Install a pressure reducing valve inside your home, if you do not currently have one. Current plumbing codes call for a PRV to be installed in all new homes. If you live in an older home you may not have a PRV protecting you.
  • If water pressure in your area exceeds 80 psi, install a PRV on your sprinkler system. These valves are generally installed between the meter and your sprinkler control valve box.
  • Be careful where you install sprinkler control valves. Do not install them next to window wells. These valves do fail from time to time and locating them next to a window well almost always results in a flooded basement.
  • If you have question or concerns, please call Public Works. Anytime a homeowner feels that their home has excessive pressure inside the home, it may be the pressure reducing valve (PRV) is no longer working properly. PRVs generally last 10-15 years. Household water issues may be resolved by contacting a professional such as a plumber.

Consumer Confidence Reports

A Consumer Confidence Report is filed with the State and published on this website yearly and may also be obtained at the City Offices. These are the annual water quality report for the City of Saratoga Springs.