Environmental Chemistry Program

Utah Public Health Laboratory

The mission of The Environmental Chemistry Laboratory is to provide testing services to ensure the health and safety of Utah’s environment and its citizens. We work with state agencies, local health departments, public utilities, local and regional citizens to deliver unbiased, high-quality, prompt results. We test for environmental chemical and biological contaminants in soils, drinking water, lakes and rivers, etc.

Program Info

Chemistry Program Leadership Team:
Boyd Neilson • Keith Henderson • Kyle Ashby

R&D Program Manager: Kyle Ashby, PhD
Quality Assurance Manager: Keith Henderson
CT Coord/Lead Chemist: Jackie Patel

Main Desk: (801) 965-2400
Email: uphlchem@utah.gov
Sample Receiving: (801) 965-2405

Helpful Links

News

EPA does not regulate or provide standards for individual private wells. As a private well owner, you are responsible for the safety of your water. You should contact your local health department for recommended testing and standards.

At a minimum, well owners should have the following tests performed on an annual basis:

Nitrate
pH
Total Dissolved Solids
Total Coliform

Learn more about required well testing.

Factors, such as building construction, formation of biofilms, and water system temperature fluctuations, can lead to Legionella growth in building water systems. Legionella growth is enhanced in large, complex water systems that are not maintained properly. Common devices, such as cooling towers, showers, hot tubs and fountains, can aerosolize water containing Legionella. People who breathe in mist or swallow contaminated water into the lungs can develop Legionnaires' disease. Those with weakened immune systems, suffer from chronic disease, are current or former smokers, or 50 years of age or older, are especially vulnerable. Testing your water system is an important way to identify Legionella problems and to evaluate the effectiveness of maintenance programs.

Learn more about UPHL Legionella Testing

Cyanobacteria occur naturally in surface waters. Certain conditions, such as warm water containing an abundance of nutrients, can favor the formation of harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs have the potential to produce toxins known as cyanotoxins, which can be harmful to humans and animals. The Utah Public Health Lab uses ELISA technology and HPLC-MS/MS instrumentation to analyze for Cyanotoxins in surface waters.