PFAS in Drinking Water in Utah
What residents of Utah need to know about PFAS ("forever chemicals") in drinking water — including contamination sources, which utilities have documented violations, and how to filter PFAS from tap water.
Source: EPA SDWIS, Utah Division of Drinking Water, CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is PFAS in drinking water a real concern in Utah?
PFAS contamination in Utah is primarily linked to Hill AFB in Davis County — one of the Air Force's largest logistics and maintenance centers — and to Dugway Proving Ground in Tooele County. Hill AFB has documented AFFF-related PFAS contamination in surrounding groundwater in Davis County, a densely populated corridor between Salt Lake City and Ogden.
Where does PFAS come from in Utah?
Hill AFB is Utah's primary military PFAS source, located in Davis County in the densely populated Wasatch Front corridor. AFFF from aircraft maintenance, fire suppression, and fire training at this major logistics installation has contaminated groundwater in the Layton and Clearfield area. Dugway Proving Ground in the west Utah desert also uses AFFF but has fewer adjacent civilian communities.
What should Utah residents know?
Davis County residents in Layton, Clearfield, and surrounding communities near Hill AFB face the most direct documented PFAS risk. Davis County is one of Utah's fastest-growing areas, and groundwater contamination from Hill AFB affects a significant residential population. Utah DDW has conducted PFAS monitoring under UCMR5.
Key Facts
| EPA MCL (PFOA/PFOS) | 4 ppt — effective April 2024 |
| MCLG | Zero |
| Primary contamination sources | Hill AFB (Davis County — Layton/Clearfield area), Dugway Proving Ground (Tooele County) |
| Population concern | Davis County is among Utah's fastest-growing areas — proximity to Hill AFB affects large residential population |
| State regulator | Utah Division of Drinking Water (DDW) |
| Health effects | Cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disruption, immune effects, developmental toxicity |
| Effective treatment | Reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58) or granular activated carbon certified for PFAS |
Why PFAS Matters in Utah
Hill AFB's location in the center of the Wasatch Front's fastest-growing corridor — Davis County — makes its PFAS contamination particularly significant. The base sits atop the valley-fill aquifer that supplies drinking water to much of northern Davis County, and PFAS from AFFF has been documented in monitoring wells in the surrounding area. Davis County communities including Layton, Clearfield, and Clinton are experiencing rapid population growth, increasing the number of people potentially affected by any groundwater quality concerns. Utah DDW has been proactive in testing and is working with affected utilities on monitoring.
Utah PFAS Regulation
Utah DDW participates in UCMR5 monitoring and has assessed PFAS at Hill AFB (Ogden area) — one of the largest Air Force logistics centers in the country — and Dugway Proving Ground. The Ogden area communities near Hill AFB have the highest documented PFAS risk in Utah. Utah follows the federal MCL with no additional state standard.
Largest Utah Water Utilities
No PFAS violations on record in EPA SDWIS for Utah utilities in our database. Browse the largest utilities to review their full water quality record.
What Are PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)?
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and AFFF firefighting foam. Their carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down in the environment or the body — hence the name “forever chemicals.” AFFF used at military bases is the single largest source of PFAS in U.S. drinking water.
Full PFAS overview — national data, health effects, all 50 statesWho Should Pay Closest Attention
Layton, Clearfield, and north Davis County communities near Hill AFB face the most direct risk. Tooele County communities near Dugway Proving Ground should also monitor available PFAS data. Private well users in Davis and Weber counties near Hill AFB should test independently.
Residents near military bases with AFFF use history
Private well owners near military or industrial sites
Pregnant residents and families with young children
Residents in communities with documented PFAS detections
Anyone who has consumed water above 4 ppt for an extended period
Residents near airports, fire training areas, or industrial manufacturers
How to Check Your Situation in Utah
- 1
Identify your water utility using the ZIP lookup below or by browsing the Utah utility directory on this site.
- 2
Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — it must report PFAS monitoring results under UCMR5 and the new MCL.
- 3
Check the EPA's ECHO database for your utility's monitoring history. Look for PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, and related compound results.
- 4
Contact your utility directly and ask for their most recent PFAS test results and whether they are implementing treatment under the 2024 MCL.
- 5
If you use a private well near a military base, airport, or industrial facility, order a PFAS panel test from a state-certified laboratory. Tests typically cost $150–$400.
- 6
If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt in your source water, install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system or an NSF/ANSI 53-certified activated carbon filter rated for PFAS removal.
How to Remove PFAS from Tap Water
Reverse Osmosis (Best)
90–99% removal — NSF/ANSI 58 certified systems only
Certified Activated Carbon
Effective with NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification — verify before buying
Boiling concentrates PFAS. Standard pitcher filters and water softeners do not remove PFAS. Always verify NSF certification before purchasing.
Take Action Now
Look up your Utah utility's PFAS monitoring history on the PFAS Watchlist below.
If your utility has detected PFAS above 4 ppt, install an NSF/ANSI 58-certified reverse osmosis system at your drinking tap.
Private well owners near military or industrial sites should order a PFAS panel test ($150–$400 at a state-certified lab).
Request your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report — PFAS results must be disclosed under the new 2024 MCL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
PFAS — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with PFAS records
Utah PFAS Watchlist
Live utility PFAS monitoring data
Utah State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 90–99% of PFAS
Activated Carbon Filter Guide
NSF/ANSI 53/58 certified options for PFAS
Arsenic in Drinking Water
Another priority contaminant
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
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Utah Division of Drinking Water ↗