Safe and Clean Water
The City of West Jordan is dedicated to providing safe and dependable water to its residents. The city is pleased to present its 2023 Water Quality report which contains important information regarding the quality of your drinking water.
Our Water Sources
The City of West Jordan’s water supply comes from two sources:
- 85% from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (treated water sources include mountain reservoirs, springs, wells.)
- 15% from the city-owned groundwater wells. (Only used during summer months to help meet high water demand.)
Are There Contaminants in my Drinking Water?
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn’t necessarily mean that water poses a health risk.
Fluoridation
In accordance with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department, the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District has been adding fluoride to drinking water since October 1, 2003. Combined with the natural fluoride already present in the water, the amount added provides about 0.6 mg/L in your tap.
Arsenic
While your drinking water meets EPA standards for arsenic, it still can contain low levels of arsenic. The EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
Nitrate
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 parts per million (ppm) is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for medical advice from your healthcare provider regarding Nitrate in water.
Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of West Jordan is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize your potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you’re concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have it water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize is exposure can be found online at epa.gov/safe-water/lead.
For more information about other contaminants and potential health effects, please call the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791 or visit online: epa.gov.
Water Testing
The Water Division takes more than 100 water samples each month to make sure the levels for chlorine and disinfectant biproducts are safe. They look for bacteria and viruses to monitor natural contaminants like lead and copper.
Drinking Water Source Protection
Pollution prevention is the most effective groundwater protection measure. Underground aquifers are often threatened by contamination from paint, used motor oil, gasoline, or lawn and garden chemicals that are not disposed of properly. Once the aquifer is polluted, it takes decades and millions of dollars to restore its pristine condition.
Potential Contaminants
Water quality can be affected by several natural elements as well as chemical elements introduced by humans. Contaminants resulting from unwise landscaping practices such as over apply or over watering might include dirt, leaves, grass clippings, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
Avoiding Water Contamination
- Never use the gutter or storm drain system for disposal of household hazardous waste. If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t dump it.
- Reduce vehicle emissions through regular maintenance and limiting usage.
- Clean spills with kitty litter or another absorbent material and let it dry.
- Follow manufacturers’ directions and properly dispose of unused household chemicals like cleaners, herbicides, and pesticides.
- Store toxic products and chemicals indoors in a shed or storage cabinet.
Use the least hazardous methods first to prevent and control pest or weed problems. - Take unwanted hazardous materials and containers to the household hazardous waste disposal facility at the Trans-Jordan Landfill.
- Do not wash tools and equipment in gutters, driveways, or drainage ways.
- Inspect and maintain vehicles to reduce fluid leakage. Vehicles should be washed at a commercial car wash. Vehicles can be washed on the lawn with biodegradable soap to reduce wash water flowing to the storm drain system.
- Recycle oil. Pour used oil into an unbreakable container like a plastic milk jug, seal, and label. Recycling oil could reduce national petroleum imports by 25.5 million barrels a year.
- Do not mix other materials with oil.
Stormwater Pollution
Stormwater is NOT TREATED and can affect overall water quality. Stormwater flows through storm drains to local creeks, canals, and rivers which can then move to groundwater.
We all live downstream. Everything that is dropped, sprayed, or poured on the ground could up in stormwater. Avoid placing waste products or chemicals near or in storm drains. Protection of stormwater is key to protecting our drinking water supply.
What You Can Do to Protect Our Water Supply
Look through your home, garage, or shed for the usual assortment of cans, bottles, and boxes of leftover household cleaners, oil-based paints, stain removal products, and automotive fluids. If these products are used in any way other than what they were intended, they are considered hazardous materials and could harm our storm water and water supply.
The Trans-Jordan Landfill accepts residential hazardous household waste for no charge Monday-Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM at 10873 S. Bacchus Hwy., South Jordan. You can report illegal dumping of oil, fuel, pant, and other hazardous materials into the storm system to West Jordan Public Works: 801-569-5700.
Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention
A cross connection is an actual or physical connection to the drinking water system through piping that has the possibility of allowing pollutants or contaminants to backflow into the public drinking water system.
Backflow is the reverse flow of non-potable water or other substances back into the drinking water system. A backflow incident could carry pollutants or contaminants into the drinking water system making it unsafe.
Protect your drinking water by installing an inexpensive Hose Bib Vacuum Breaker on each threaded hose bib around your home. These are needed when a hose bib doesn’t come with an anti-siphon feature from the factory and can be found at a home improvement store. Remove hose bib vacuum breakers during freezing temperatures to prevent water pipe breaks.
City code requires all landscape sprinkling systems connected to the public drinking water system be equipped with an approved backflow prevention assembly. These need to be tested annually to comply with state laws.
Indoor and Outdoor Water Use
About 66% of West Jordan residents’ culinary water is used for landscape irrigation. Most of us give our lawn twice as much water it really needs. The easiest way to achieve the most water savings is to water deeply, but as infrequently as possible, depending on the weather. Try applying ½” of water at a time, and irrigate once a week in the spring, increasing gradually to once every three days in the summer, and then gradually back to once a week in the fall.
‘Slow the Flow’
Utah is a desert state, and even if we never have another drought, the Utah Division of Water Resources says water conservation is critical because of population growth. The city’s water supplier is also required by federal contracts to reduce per capita water consumption.
The goal is to reduce per capita consumption by 25% between the years 2000 and 2025. The city has reduced per capita consumption since the year 2000, and we fully expect to reach the 25 percent goal by 2025. West Jordan is on the right track. With your help, we will reach out long-term goals.
Visit conservewater.utah.gov for real-time watering recommendations.
Questions or Input
Public comment can be shared during City Council meetings. The Council meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month.
Unusual Taste, Order, or Color?
Promptly contact the Water Division if your water is ever discolored or you notice any changes in the taste or odor of your water. 801-569-5700 or 801-330-4528 for after-hour emergencies.
Online Water Quality Report
View the online Water Quality Report (Ver en español) PDF.
Requests or Questions?
Water Operations: 801-569-5700
After-hour Emergencies: 801-330-4528
publicworks@westjordan.utah.gov
Utility Billing: 801-569-5000
