DDW-2025-003251

2024
South Davis
Water District
407 West 3100 South • Bountiful, UT. 84010
[phone] • [e-mail]

REPORT
We are pleased to present you with a look at the
quality of the water delivered in 2024. Included
in this report is a look at where your water comes
from, what we are doing to protect your water
from potential contaminants, how it compares to
EPA and State of Utah standards, tips on
maintaining safe water in your home, and how
you can help conserve this precious resource.
The South Davis Water District is committed to
providing you with safe, clean, great tasting
drinking water.

The SDWD’s drinking water
comes from 1 spring, 6 wells,
and 1 surface water treatment
plant. The treatment plant
treats water from the Weber
River. The treatment plant is
owned and operated by the
Weber Basin Water
Conservancy District. The
SDWD, like many other public
water suppliers in the area,
purchases some of its culinary
water from Weber Basin.

Our spring water is collected underground and
diverted into a holding tank. The Enoch Spring
provides millions of gallons of fresh, clean, great
tasting water to the eastern bench area of the
District in Bountiful.

Our North Canyon, Bona Vista, and Val Verda
wells provide water to the eastern portion of
Bountiful and North Salt Lake areas that reside
within the SDWD. Water is boosted from these
wells to two large tanks at higher elevations
named 1A and 2A, where it is held for
consumption. This water was both chlorinated
and fluoridated before it entered these tanks.

Our three Val Vista Wells pump water to a large
tank located in the middle of the District called
3A. This reservoir serves the middle portion of
the District in Bountiful as well as a portion of
Woods Cross.

Water from the treatment plant is fed directly
into the District’s distribution system. This
water is occasionally boosted from this location
up to the 3A tank as the need arises, but the
majority of this water serves the bottom portion
of the District.

The chart below shows the number of gallons
consumed from each source, and the percentage
each source contributed.

SOURCE GALLONS %TOTAL

The SDWD has a Drinking Water Source
Protection Plan that can be viewed at our office.
It provides information such as potential sources
of contamination and our designated source
protection areas. All the wells in the SDWD have
surface grout seals that are in good condition.
The Enoch Spring has an impervious clay layer
over the Enoch Spring that has been found to be
in good condition.

The layers of sediment above the portions of the
aquifer in our area are mostly classified as
unconfined. Unconfined refers to the ability of
the ground to allow potential contamination
from surface activity to travel through the
ground and into the aquifer.

Common household chemicals pose a great risk
to aquifers. Paints, cleaners, motor oil, gasoline,
antifreeze, and lawn & garden chemicals that are
disposed of in the gutter or backyard can migrate
to rivers and streams or filter down through the
ground and pollute aquifers.

Residents can help prevent water pollution by
employing best management practices when
storing, using, and discarding fertilizers,
pesticides, and other household hazardous
wastes properly.

The types of prioritized potential contamination
sources, with #1 being highest risk of affecting the
wells and springs, are as follows:

1. Residential and commercial pesticide,
herbicide, and fertilizer use.
2. Residential sewer system leaks.
North Canyon Well 55,484,128 23.00%
Bona Vista Well 3,179,768 1.32%
Val Vista Well #1 13,612,965 5.64%
Val Vista Well #2 9,878,026 4.09%
Val Vista Well #3 14,876,504 6.16%
Val Verda Well 6,154,979 2.55%
Enoch Spring 24,419,500 10.12%
Surface Water Treatment Plant 113,711,000 47.12%
⌂
3. Streets and roadways – transport spills and
road clearing with deicing salts.
4. Existing and abandoned wells that have
become contaminated.

Use the following guidelines when using
pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers:

• Only purchase the amount and kind of
fertilizer or pesticide needed, and store in
locked dry cabinets.
• Do not allow fertilizer and pesticide spills to
be washed into the storm drain system.
• Dry pesticide and fertilizer spills should be
swept up and later applied at the rate
specified on an area where needed.
• Liquid pesticide and fertilizer spills should
be soaked up using absorbent material
(such as sawdust, cat litter, or soil) and then
taken to a household hazardous waste
collection site.
• Never apply fertilizers near wells.
• Do not spray or apply pesticides near walks
or driveways. This will help prevent
pesticides from washing off into the storm
drain system.

Household hazardous wastes (HHWs) are
discarded materials that are ignitable, corrosive,
reactive, toxic, or otherwise listed as hazardous
by the EPA. Paint, used motor oil, gasoline,
antifreeze, or lawn and garden chemicals that are
disposed of in the gutter or your backyard can
migrate to rivers or filter down through the
ground and pollute aquifers. The following best
management practices should be employed when
handling HHWs:

• Completely use the product before
disposing of the container.
• Return unused portions to community
household hazardous waste collection
programs.
• Do not flush HHWs down the toilet, down
the sink, down a storm drain, or pour on the
ground.

Please do not spoil the water supply for yourself
and everyone else! Dispose of paint, used motor
oil, and other hazardous chemicals in a proper
and safe manner.
For more information on the nearest location for
hazardous waste disposal and free disposal
community events, please contact:
➢
➢
➢
If you would like additional information on
HHWs, and ways to minimize the impact of
potential contamination sources on our water
resources, please visit the Utah Division of
Drinking Water website at:
As stated above, the SDWD received 47.12% of its
drinking water in 2024 from a surface water
treatment plant. The following describes the
treatment process used to clean and disinfect
surface water.

Coagulation and flocculation are the first steps in
the treatment process. The goal of this stage is to
bind up the suspended particles in the raw water
by adding a coagulant as it first enters the water
treatment plant. Floc, which is a tuft-like
aggregate, is produced from the mixing of the
coagulant in the raw water.
Over time, as more suspended matter is bound,
the smaller aggregates of floc become larger
particles of floc.

Sedimentation is the second stage of water
treatment. The objective of this stage is to
remove the floc. This is accomplished as the floc
settles out of the water in long sedimentation
basins. The cleaner water is drained off the
surface of the sedimentation basin and sent to
the next stage.

Filtration is the third stage of water treatment.
The purpose of this stage is to remove the
remaining suspended particles and dissolved
constituents. This is accomplished by passing
the water through a filter composed of different
layers of sand and gravel.
⌂
Disinfection is the fourth stage of water
treatment. A small amount of chlorine, or other
disinfecting chemical is added. This is used to
kill any remaining germs and keeps the water
safe as it travels to the public. This treatment
process removes cryptosporidium and giardia
from the water; however, it cannot guarantee
that 100% of the microbes are removed.
Monitoring by Weber Basin indicates the
presence of cryptosporidium and giardia in the
source water. Current testing methods don’t
allow them to determine if the organisms are
dead or if they are capable of causing disease.
Therefore, UV light is administered to the water
to prevent these microbes, if they are present,
from reproducing and causing sickness.

Microfiltration is the fifth stage of water
treatment. At this stage the water is passed
through a special pore-sized membrane to
separate any remaining microorganisms and
suspended particles. Disinfection is applied
again as the final stage of the process.

With ever increasing growth and the nature of
the regional climate, there is no question that we
will encounter future drought years. Future
drought cycles will have an even greater effect
than previous drought because of the increased
population and higher demands on water
systems. Conservation and improved water
efficiency needs to become a way of life for all of
us by incorporating better water use practices
and valuing this precious resource more than
ever.

The South Davis Water District is committed to
conserving. The District has strongly enforced a
watering time policy, which is that residents
cannot water between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

As the above chart shows, irrigation water usage
has dropped since 2000. Since 2000, the District
has used an estimated average of 2.0 acre feet of
water per acre of irrigatable land.

The District’s culinary water loss is something
that the District is trying to improve by replacing
old leaky pipes.

Last year, the District lost an estimated 27.5
million gallons from leaks and undocumented
hydrant use. This was 11.8% of total production.
Even though much of this water goes back into
the aquifer to be pumped out and used
down-stream, it still represents a loss of
electricity, treatment chemicals, and creates
unnecessary wear and tear on pumps. It also
requires the District to have more storage
capacity than is otherwise necessary. The District
is committed to bringing this number down.

The above graph shows that culinary
consumption has decreased significantly since
2009 notwithstanding the District’s population
increasing by 15%. This signifies a reduction in
per capita use among culinary users.

The same can be said of secondary users.
Secondary consumption is still, however, the
most effective way of saving large amounts of
water. The District has strategically metered
many of the high users of secondary water such
as schools, churches, and other areas with
substantial landscape requiring heavy watering.

The State is asking water users to reduce per
capita water use by another 20% from now until
2030. We will strive to meet this goal through
education, metering, late seasonal startups and
earlier seasonal shutdowns when warranted, and
effective rate structures.

For more information on water conservation,
please visit these web sites:

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2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023
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DISTRICT CULINARY USE
Once the water passes from our system and
through the meter, you become a partner with us
in making sure it stays fresh and clean. Here are
some things to consider.

Water Heater
Check the temperature
setting for your water heater.
Water that is too hot can
create a burn hazard, while
water that is too cool can
create a perfect environment
for bacteria to grow. You may
also want to consider
installing a pressure regulator
to prevent any sudden surges
to your water heater. These
can be found at any general
plumbing supply store, or you
can have a plumber install one for you.

Filters and Purifiers
All types of filters and purifiers (point of use
devices) need to be properly maintained and
monitored. Neglected devices may not work as
intended; become a haven for microbial growth;
or shed filter material into
your home’s tap water. Even
the filter in your refrigerator
needs to be properly
maintained to protect your
family.

Water Softeners
Since the hardness of
your water can range
anywhere from 14 to 30
grains per gallon, it is
important to monitor
the settings on your
water softener regularly
to make sure that you
are treating your water
properly. Over treating
your water is wasted
money while under
treating is not effective.

Unused Rooms
If you have a kitchen or bathroom that rarely gets
used, you should make a point of running water
through the faucets on a frequent basis. Stagnant
pipes and fixtures are susceptible to microbial
growth. Flushing unused water lines regularly
will help prevent this.

A backflow event is when water that is potentially
contaminated is pushed or drawn into a culinary
water supply.

One type of backflow event can be created
through a high pressure contaminated source
pushing into a clean potable source. An example
of this occurrence could be a dentist office using
a suction device which uses a water pump
creating a venturi effect
by accelerating the
water through
pressurization. If
the suction device
does not have a
proper backflow
device installed;
this pressurized,
contaminated water
could enter the culinary
supply.

Another type of backflow event can be created by
a negative pressure or suction effect. One
example could be a culinary sprinkler system tied
into the home’s culinary service line without a
backflow assembly. If for some reason a vacuum
is created in the house it can pull dirty water from
the irrigation system and contaminate the
resident’s water supply, and possibly the entire
neighborhood’s water supply.

A cross-connection is when there exists a
physical connection between a potable source of
water and a source of contamination. The most
worrisome cross-connection in our area is that of
a culinary service line being connected into an
irrigation main, or vice versa. Fortunately,
neither of these have occurred in our District, but
it has occurred in other areas. This can result in
people becoming very sick. The District monitors
contractors very closely in order to prevent this
sort of cross-connection. Residents and business
owners need to also be very aware of this
possibility. Contact the District immediately if
you feel this could be occurring.

There are other connections that are not
technically cross-connections because they have
a check valve, but the check valve system they
have is not up to today’s standards. One such
connection is the Utah riser. This fire
suppression connection is allowed in businesses
if they were existing before new laws were put
into place. Most of these fire sprinklers have
propylene glycol in them to prevent freezing.
The check valves that are on the Utah riser are
not up to current standards, but because it would
cost the business owner so much to upgrade, the
State lets them slide. The check valves on these
risers can leak, and there is no means of testing
them.

You will usually know your fire suppression
system is leaking if there is a very distinctive
smell and taste. If there is propylene glycol in
your water supply it will smell and taste like a
rotting onion. Even though propylene glycol is
not toxic, it is extremely unpleasant to drink or
smell. If you have a fire suppression system in
your place of business, and you start tasting and
smelling onions in your water, chances are very
high that your fire suppression system is leaking
into the water supply. We would highly
recommend not waiting until it leaks, however.
Just get your Utah riser replaced with a proper
unit that can be tested annually.

You are required to have your backflow device
tested by a certified technician every year. This
report must be sent to the water department. It
is imperative that you have the correct assembly
installed, and that it is tested annually.

If you have any questions regarding potential
cross-connections or backflow devices, please
contact the water department at 801-295-4468.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may
reasonably be expected to contain at least small
amounts of some contaminants. The presence of
contaminants does not necessarily indicate that
water poses a health risk. More information
about contaminants and potential health effects
can be obtained by calling the Environmental
Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791).
The sources of our drinking water include rivers,
springs, and wells. As water travels over the
surface of the land or through the ground, it
dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in
some cases, radioactive material. The flowing
water can pick up substances resulting from the
presence of animals or from human activity.
Below are some of these contaminants that may
be present in source water.

such as viruses
and bacteria, may come from sewage treatment
plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock
operations, and wildlife.

Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present
in the environment and are used as an indicator
that potentially harmful bacteria may be present.
Utah DDW regulations require the District to test
a minimum of 10 samples per month for total
coliform and E. coli bacteria. The District did not
have any positive samples in 2024 for total
coliform or E. coli.

such as salts and
metals, can be naturally-occurring or result
from urban storm water runoff, industrial,
domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining, or farming.
may come from a
variety of sources such as agriculture, urban
storm water runoff, and residential uses.

including synthetic and
volatile organic chemicals, are by-products of
industrial processes and petroleum production,
and can also come from gas stations, urban storm
water runoff, and septic systems.

can be
naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas
production and mining activities.

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 District 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 the potential
for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30
seconds to 2 minutes before using water for
drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about
lead in your water, you may wish to have your
water tested. Information on lead in drinking
water, testing methods, and steps you can take to
minimize exposure is available from the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline or at
www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Radon is a radioactive gas that you
cannot see, taste, or smell. At this time, radon
monitoring is not required by the EPA; however,
the EPA is considering making radon monitoring
a requirement. The proposed MCL for radon is
4,000 pCi/L for systems which have a public
education program for radon. For additional
information, call your state radon program or
call EPA's Radon Hotline [phone]).

are microbial
pathogens found in surface water throughout the
U.S. Although filtration removes
cryptosporidium and giardia, the most
commonly-used filtration methods cannot
guarantee 100 percent removal. Monitoring
conducted by Weber Basin indicates the presence
of cryptosporidium and giardia in the raw water
prior to treatment. Weber Basin uses UV light in
the water treatment, which inhibits these
organisms from reproducing and causing
sickness.

Ingestion of cryptosporidium may cause
cryptosporidiosis, an abdominal infection.
Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea,
and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals
can overcome the disease within a few weeks.
However, immuno-compromised people are at
greater risk of developing life-threatening
illness. Cryptosporidium must be ingested to
cause disease, and it may be spread through
means other than drinking water.

is an odorless and tasteless metallic
element. Chromium is found naturally in rocks,
plants, soil, volcanic dust, and animals. The most
common forms of chromium that occur in
natural waters in the environment are: Trivalent
chromium (chromium-3) and Hexavalent
chromium (chromium-6). Chromium-3 is an
essential human dietary element. It is found in
many vegetables, fruits, meats, grains, and yeast.

Chromium-6 occurs naturally in the
environment from the erosion of natural
chromium deposits. It can also be produced by
industrial processes. There are demonstrated
instances of chromium being released to the
environment by leakage, poor storage, or
inadequate industrial waste disposal practices.
Chromium 6 is the more toxic of the two forms of
chromium. The District tested for Chromium 6
in 2014 and found no trace of this contaminant in
the water at that time.

at Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals
that have been used in industry and consumer
products worldwide since the 1940s. These
chemicals are used to make household and
commercial products that resist heat and
chemical reactions and repel oil, stains, grease,
and water. Perfluoro octanoic acid (PFOA) and
perfluoro octane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are some of
the major PFAS compounds. PFAS are found in
humans, wildlife, and fish all over the world.
Some PFAS do not break down easily and
therefore stay in the environment and human
body for a very long time. PFAS may affect human
hormones and immunity systems.

The EPA and Utah Department of Environmental
Quality have been evaluating PFAS in drinking
water for many years. In April 2024, the EPA
established a Maximum Contaminant Level
(MCL) regulation for PFAS, which is going to be
regulated starting in 2027. The District has
actively been monitoring its water sources for
detections of PFAS and will continue to do so in
preparation for the regulated MCL to go into
effect in 2027. For additional information, visit
www.epa.gov/pfas or www.deq.utah.gov/
pollutants/per-and-polyfluoroakyl-substances-
pfas.
The water provided by the South Davis Water
District meets or exceeds all EPA and Utah State
water quality requirements. The treated surface
water that the District purchases from Weber
Basin has won numerous awards for water taste
and quality.

We at the South Davis Water District are
committed to providing our residents with the
best possible drinking water. We strive to go the
extra mile with our water quality.
The following are definitions for some terms and
abbreviations that you may be unfamiliar with.
Detected Contaminant - Any contaminant
detected at or above its minimum detection
limit.

MDL - Minimum Detection Limit is the lowest
level at which a contaminant is detected
with a specified degree of certainty.

MCLG - Maximum Contaminant Level Goal is
the level of a contaminant in drinking
water below which there is no known or
expected risk to health.

MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level is the
highest level of a contaminant that is
allowed in drinking water.

LRAA - Location-based running annual average.

NA - Not applicable (there is no Federal or State
MCL and/or MCLG).

ND - Not detected

NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (a measure
of the cloudiness of the water).

PPM - parts per million, or milligrams per liter
(mg/l).

PPB - parts per billion, or micrograms per liter
(µg/l).

PPT – parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter
(ng/l).

pCi/L - picocuries per liter (a measure of
radioactivity).

The following page contains all the regulated and
unregulated drinking water contaminants that
we detected during this year. We test for over 130
contaminants (i.e., pesticides, herbicides,
organic compounds, etc.) with almost all being
non-detectable.

Not all contaminants are required to be sampled
for every year. The EPA and State of Utah have
established that, in some circumstances, if a
source of water goes a determined period
without having detected certain contaminants,
or the detected contaminants remain at
consistently low levels for a determined period,
that source may qualify for reduced monitoring.

Some of the surface water data, though
representative, are more than one year old.
Because the concentrations of certain
contaminants do not change frequently, the state
allows less frequent monitoring.

The presence of contaminants in the water does
not necessarily indicate that the water poses a
health risk. These contaminants are harmful if
ingested in certain amounts. The EPA
determines these amounts for public water
systems, and creates regulations that allow for a
large cushion of safety. The FDA regulates limits
for bottled water companies. More information
about contaminants and potential health effects
can be obtained by calling the Environmental
Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791).

Some people may be more vulnerable to
contaminants in drinking water than the general
population. Immuno-compromised persons such
as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer
treatment, persons who have undergone organ
transplant, people with immune system
disorders, some elderly, and infants can be
particularly at risk from infections. These people
should seek advice about drinking water from
their health care providers. EPA/Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate
means to lessen the risk of infections by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial
contaminants are available from the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline [phone]).
-- Data is derived from samples collected from 2017 through 2024.

1Fluoride levels in the District are adjusted to maintain levels between 0.6 and 0.8 ppm.
2The State of Utah requires monitoring for sodium even though no MCL has been established.
3The MCL for sulfate and total dissolved solids is established by the State of Utah.

-- Data is derived from samples collected in 2024. Lithium tested in 2023.

1The MCL and MCLG for per & polyfluoroalkyl and Lithium have not been established by the EPA.
(Disinfection Byproducts) – Data derived from 2024 samples.

1This value represents the running annual average for 2024.
Contaminants Average Low High MCL MCLG Violation Typical Sources
Arsenic (ppb) .434 ND 1.3 10 NA NO Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards.
Barium (ppm) .223 .066 .341 2 2 NO Erosion of natural deposits; discharge of drilling wastes.
Fluoride1 (ppm) 0.6541 .087 1.00 4 4 NO Erosion of natural deposits; water additive.
Nitrate (ppm) 2.431 .371 3.70 10 10 NO Runoff from fertilizer use; erosion of natural deposits.
Selenium (ppb) 1.049 .001 1.30 50 50 NO Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines.
Sodium (ppm) 97.20 35.6 152 NA2 NA NO Erosion of natural deposits.
Sulfate (ppm) 38.63 22.0 45.8 1,000 3 NA NO Erosion of natural deposits.
Total Dissolved Solids (ppm) 1,013.17 488 1,360 2,0003 NA NO Erosion of natural deposits.
Cyanide (ppb) 2.96 ND 7.00 200 200 NO Discharge from metal, plastic, or fertilizer factories.
Contaminants Average Low High MCL MCLG Violation Typical Sources
PFHxS (ppt) 4.77 ND 14 NA1 NA1 NO Manufactured chemicals used in many products.
PFBS (ppt) 1.95 ND 3.1 NA1 NA1 NO Manufactured chemicals used in many products.
PFHpA (ppt) .662 ND .75 NA1 NA1 NO Manufactured chemicals used in many products.
PFOA (ppt) 2.39 ND 5.1 NA1 NA1 NO Manufactured chemicals used in many products.
PFBA (ppt) 1.88 ND 3.1 NA1 NA1 NO Manufactured chemicals used in many products.
PFHxA (ppt) 2.16 ND 5.0 NA1 NA1 NO Manufactured chemicals used in many products.
PFPeA (ppt) 2.64 ND 5.4 NA1 NA1 NO Manufactured chemicals used in many products.
Lithium (ppb) 0.18 ND .23 NA1 NA1 NO Erosion of natural deposits, and use in pharmaceuticals.
Contaminants LLRA1 Low High MCL MCLG Violation Typical Sources
Trihalomethanes (ppb) 43.75 8.55 85 80 NA NO By-product of drinking water chlorination.
Haloacetic Acids (ppb) 11.95 4.84 18.9 60 NA NO By-product of drinking water chlorination.
– Data derived from 2024 samples. (Bacteria testing derived from 120 samples)

1 Highest monthly number of positive samples.
2This value represents the highest single measurement of combined filter readings taken every four hours during 2024.
3This value represents the lowest monthly percentage of combined filter readings meeting less than 0.3 NTU in at least 95% of the measurements taken each month during 2024.

-- Data is derived from samples collected from 2015 through 2024.

Contaminants HMNP1 MCL MCLG Violation Typical Sources
Total Coliform Bacteria 0 1 SAMPLE 0 NO Naturally present in the environment.
Fecal Coliform & E. coli 0 1 SAMPLE 0 NO Human and animal fecal waste.
Contaminants Percentage MCLG High2 MCL Typical Sources
Turbidity 100%3 0.00 NTU 0.03 NTU 0.3 NTU Sediments from runoff.
Contaminants Average Low High MCL MCLG Violation Typical Sources
Gross Alpha Particles (pCi/L) 4.45 -.07 10.4 15 0 NO Erosion of natural deposits.
Gross Beta Particles (pCi/L)
Combined Radium (pCi/L)
4.43
0.66
2.4
0.16
7.0
0.98
50
5
0
0
NO
NO
Decay of natural and man-made deposits.
Erosion of natural deposits.