We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Utah to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Hildale, Utah
Hildale has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hildale water report →Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 36 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Salt Lake City water report →Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bountiful water report →Eagle Mountain, Utah
Eagle Mountain has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Eagle Mountain water report →St George City, Utah
St George City has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full St George City water report →Riverton, Utah
Riverton has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Riverton water report →Magna, Utah
Magna has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Magna water report →Hurricane, Utah
Hurricane has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hurricane water report →West Jordan, Utah
West Jordan has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full West Jordan water report →Ogden, Utah
Ogden has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ogden water report →Herriman, Utah
Herriman has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Herriman water report →Kearns, Utah
Kearns has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Kearns water report →Draper, Utah
Draper has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Draper water report →South Jordan, Utah
South Jordan has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full South Jordan water report →Bluffdale, Utah
Bluffdale has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bluffdale water report →North Salt Lake, Utah
North Salt Lake has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full North Salt Lake water report →Taylorsville, Utah
Taylorsville has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Taylorsville water report →Sandy, Utah
Sandy has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Sandy water report →Elwood, Utah
Elwood has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Elwood water report →Murray, Utah
Murray has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Murray water report →Park City, Utah
Park City has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Park City water report →Oakley, Utah
Oakley has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Oakley water report →West Haven, Utah
West Haven has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full West Haven water report →Roy, Utah
Roy has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Roy water report →Saratoga Springs, Utah
Saratoga Springs has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Saratoga Springs water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs). These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 368 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 0 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 368 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hildale | UT | 27 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Salt Lake City | UT | 36 | 16 | 0 | 360,654 |
| 3 | Bountiful | UT | 30 | 16 | 0 | 37,500 |
| 4 | Eagle Mountain | UT | 29 | 16 | 0 | 47,200 |
| 5 | St George City | UT | 28 | 16 | 0 | 105,240 |
| 6 | Riverton | UT | 28 | 16 | 0 | 69,242 |
| 7 | Magna | UT | 28 | 16 | 0 | 32,100 |
| 8 | Hurricane | UT | 26 | 16 | 0 | 38,015 |
| 9 | West Jordan | UT | 31 | 15 | 0 | 113,699 |
| 10 | Ogden | UT | 31 | 15 | 0 | 26,500 |
| 11 | Herriman | UT | 30 | 15 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 12 | Kearns | UT | 27 | 15 | 0 | 55,119 |
| 13 | Draper | UT | 27 | 15 | 0 | 28,000 |
| 14 | South Jordan | UT | 26 | 15 | 0 | 87,356 |
| 15 | Bluffdale | UT | 26 | 15 | 0 | 17,014 |
| 16 | North Salt Lake | UT | 25 | 15 | 0 | 18,655 |
| 17 | Taylorsville | UT | 27 | 14 | 0 | 3,000 |
| 18 | Sandy | UT | 23 | 14 | 0 | 99,750 |
| 19 | Elwood | UT | 33 | 13 | 0 | 25,470 |
| 20 | Murray | UT | 33 | 13 | 0 | 350 |
| 21 | Park City | UT | 32 | 13 | 0 | 9,500 |
| 22 | Oakley | UT | 32 | 13 | 0 | 1,251 |
| 23 | West Haven | UT | 29 | 13 | 0 | 82,000 |
| 24 | Roy | UT | 29 | 13 | 0 | 38,000 |
| 25 | Saratoga Springs | UT | 28 | 13 | 0 | 58,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Utah?
Based on 2026 data, Hildale, UT has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
