Culinary Water

Providing the best water quality possible is the goal of the Drinking Water Division of the City of Saratoga Spring's Department of Public Works (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 any water quality concerns, please call Public Works - we are happy to speak to you. 

Drinking Water Sources

The City relies on several sources for its drinking water needs. Saratoga receives treated water from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, which provides drinking water from a combination of both groundwater and surface water.  The City pumps groundwater from five deep wells.  Groundwater from the City's wells is pumped 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 Division monitors the drinking water for safety by sampling and analyzing the water 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 60 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.  The State of Utah passed HB81 (the Fluoride Amendments, eff. May 7, 2025), which prohibits the addition of fluoride to public drinking water.

Odors

A common source of drinking water odors are homeowners' hot water heaters.  Typically, harmless anaerobic bacteria that exists naturally in groundwater reacts with the magnesium and aluminum (sacrificial anodes) in hot water heaters to produce sulfide gases.  This produces odors and is a condition that may exist due to water chemistry.

Another common source of odors are the drains in the home.  Odors can result from grease and other debris that has built up in pipes, p-traps, and in-sink food waste disposers.  Bacteria may be generated and cause odors to be released.  Odors may also enter a home from the sewer if they are able to rise up through house drains where there is an empty sink p-trap or insufficient water barrier.  Add water to sink and floor drains that may have not been used in a while to replenish water barriers and seal out odors.

Water Softener Discharge Safety

Household water softener systems generate wastewater when the softener system flushes the resin during regeneration.  That wastewater is typically directed to a floor drain, which then drains to the City’s sanitary sewer.  An air gap is necessary to provide a physical barrier between the softener discharge and the drain in your home.  If the softener drain hose is inserted into a floor drain (or other pipe drain) and wastewater backs up to the floor level (or to the top of a pipe drain), that wastewater may be pulled up and into your softener system.  This siphon action may contaminate your home's drinking water.  Installing and maintaining an air gap at the end of the softener discharge hose is critical in protecting your home’s drinking water pipe system.

 A recommended air gap consists of at least a 1.5” space between the end of the discharge tube from your softener system and the top of the floor drain (or receiving pipe).  This can be accomplished several ways.  A common air gap is prepared using a specialized T-fitting to maintain that separation. You can find further information, including videos and diagrams, online to show you how an air gap can be created and maintained.  If you have further questions, please contact a certified plumber.

Water Pressure

The City is divided into 5 pressure zones; each zone has a water tank, and wells (or booster pump stations) that supply water to each tank.  Water lines for all the zones are interconnected so that water may be moved from one area to another depending on the demand, which provides operational redundance for City Water Division operators.  The zones are separated and protected 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 homes, and to pipes and valves in your sprinkler system, if equipment is not protected by pressure reducing valves (PRVs).

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 City 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 may periodically fail and locating them next to a window well almost always results in a flooded basement.
  • If you have questions or concerns, please call Public Works.  Anytime a homeowner feels that their home has excessive water pressure, 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 plumber.

Lead Service Line Inventory 

To reduce lead in drinking water, the EPA introduced the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) that went into effect October 16, 2024.  In accordance with these new LCRR, the City of Saratoga Springs completed a service line inventory and confirmed that all water lines within the City are non-lead.  This thorough assessment included review of construction specifications and field validations to ensure accurate documentation of the City’s infrastructure.  Validation of the City's Geographic Information System (GIS) data was performed against historical records for accuracy.  With this inventory completed, the City reaffirms its commitment to providing safe drinking water to our community and meeting all regulatory standards.

Consumer Confidence Reports

A Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is prepared by the City, filed annually with the State, and published on this website.  Below are links to the City's annual CCRs for reference.  A paper copy of a CCR may be obtained at the Public Works' offices.