Private Wells
Environmental Chemistry Program
The U.S. 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 (see below) for the required and recommended testing and standards. At a minimum, well owners should have the following tests performed on an annual basis: Nitrate, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, and Total Coliforms/E.coli.
Required Tests for Individual Wells
The table below lists the required tests for individual wells within the jurisdiction of each Local Utah Health Department and is for informational purposes only. Information from official local health department resources supersedes the information presented below.
Click on the map icon for a larger view of Utah Counties and Health Departments.
| Health Department | County | Required Testing | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear River Health Dept. | Box Elder, Cache, Rich | No required testing Total Coliforms/E.coli (when requested) |
Bear River HD Homepage Link to how to chlorinate your well/spring |
| Central Utah Health Dept. | Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne | No required testing Coliform/E.coli (recommended) |
Central Utah HD Homepage |
| Davis County Health Dept. | Davis | Recommended testing only: Antimony, Sb (MCL = 0.006 mg/L) Arsenic, As (MCL = 0.01 mg/L) Barium, Ba (MCL = 2.0 mg/L) Beryllium, Be (MCL = 0.004 mg/L) Cadmium, Cd (MCL = 0.005 mg/L) Chromium, Cr (MCL = 0.1 mg/L) Cyanide, Free CN (MCL = 0.2 mg/L) Fluoride, F (MCL = 4.0 mg/L) Mercury, Hg (MCL = 0.002 mg/L) Nitrate (MCL = 10.0 mg/L) Nitrite (MCL = 1.0 mg/L) Selenium, Se (MCL = 0.05 mg/L) Sulfate (MCL = 1000 mg/L) Thallium, Tl (MCL = 0.002 mg/L) Total Dissolved Solids, TDS (MCL = 2000) Total Coliform/E.coli. Additional EPA or CDC Recommendations: pH Total Hardness Volatile Organics (VOCs) Lead/Copper (depending on plumbing) Pesticides (depending upon land use) |
Davis County HD Homepage EPA Private Wells Link CDC Private Wells Link |
| Salt Lake County Health Dept. | Salt Lake | Antimony, Sb (MCL = 0.006 mg/L) Arsenic, As (MCL = 0.01 mg/L) Barium, Ba (MCL = 2.0 mg/L) Beryllium, Be (MCL = 0.004 mg/L) Cadmium, Cd (MCL = 0.005 mg/L) Chromium, Cr (MCL = 0.1 mg/L) Cyanide, Free CN (MCL = 0.2 mg/L) Fluoride, F (MCL = 4.0 mg/L) Mercury, Hg (MCL = 0.002 mg/L) Nickel, Ni Nitrate (MCL = 10.0 mg/L) Nitrite (MCL = 1.0 mg/L) Selenium, Se (MCL = 0.05 mg/L) Sodium, Na Sulfate (MCL = 500 mg/L) Thallium, Tl (MCL = 0.002 mg/L) Total Dissolved Solids, TDS (MCL = 2000 mg/L) Total Coliform |
Salt Lake County HD Homepage Salt Lake County Health Regulation #11 |
| San Juan Public Health | San Juan | San Juan Public Health Homepage | |
| Southeast Utah Health Dept. | Carbon, Emery, Grand | Total Coliform/E.coli. (Recommended) Total Dissolved Solids, TDS (Optional) |
Southeast Utah HD Homepage |
| Southwest Utah Health Dept. | Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Washington | Total Coliforms Nitrate (MCL = 10 mg/L) Nitrite (MCL = 1.0 mg/L) Total Nitrate and Nitrite (MCL = 10.0 mg/L) |
Southwest Utah HD Homepage |
| Summit County Health Dept. | Summit | No required testing | Summit County HD Homepage |
| Tooele County Health Dept. | Tooele | Ammonia Arsenic, As Barium, Ba Cadmium, Cd Chloride, Cl Chromium, Cr Fluoride, F Lead, Pb Mercury, Hg Nitrate Nitrite pH Selenium, Se Silver, Ag Sodium, Na Sulfate Total Dissolved Solids Turbidity Total Coliform/E.coli. |
Tooele County HD Homepage |
| TriCounty Health Dept. | Daggett, Duchesne, Uintah | Antimony, Sb (MCL = 0.006 mg/L) Arsenic, As (MCL = 0.01 mg/L) Barium, Ba (MCL = 2.0 mg/L) Beryllium, Be (MCL = 0.004 mg/L) Cadmium, Cd (MCL = 0.005 mg/L) Chromium, Cr (MCL = 0.1 mg/L) Copper, Cu (MCL = 1.3 mg/L) Cyanide, Free CN (MCL = 0.2 mg/L) Fluoride, F (MCL = 4.0 mg/L) Lead, Pb (MCL = 0.015 mg/L) Mercury, Hg (MCL = 0.002 mg/L) Nickel, Ni (MCL = 0.1 mg/L) Nitrate (MCL = 10.0 mg/L) Nitrite (MCL = 1.0 mg/L) Total Nitrate and Nitrite (MCL 10.0 mg/L) Selenium, Se (MCL = 0.05 mg/L) Sodium, Na (No MCL) Sulfate (MCL = 1000 mg/L) Thallium, Tl (MCL = 0.002 mg/L) Total Dissolved Solids, TDS (MCL = 2000) Turbidity (MCL = 5 NTU) Total Coliform |
TriCounty HD Homepage |
| Utah County Health Dept. | Utah | Fluoride Nitrate Nitrite Sulfate Total Dissolved Solids Turbidity Metals: Ba, Cr, Na, As, Cd, Pb, Se, Ag Mercury Total Coliform |
Utah County HD Homepage |
| Wasatch County Health Dept. | Wasatch | No required testing | Wasatch County HD Homepage |
| Weber-Morgan Health Dept. | Weber, Morgan | Antimony, Sb (MCL = 0.006 mg/L) Arsenic, As (MCL = 0.01 mg/L) Barium, Ba (MCL = 2.0 mg/L) Beryllium, Be (MCL = 0.004 mg/L) Cadmium, Cd (MCL = 0.005 mg/L) Chromium, Cr (MCL = 0.1 mg/L) Cyanide, Free CN (MCL = 0.2 mg/L) Fluoride, F (MCL = 4.0 mg/L) Mercury, Hg (MCL = 0.002 mg/L) Nitrate (MCL = 10.0 mg/L) Nitrite (MCL = 1.0 mg/L) Total Nitrate and Nitrite (MCL 10.0 mg/L) Selenium, Se (MCL = 0.05 mg/L) Thallium, Tl (MCL = 0.002 mg/L) Total Coliform/E.coli. |
Weber-Morgan HD Homepage |