01The verdict: is Castledale water safe?
Castledale's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D+ (50/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 8 water systems serve approximately 8,301 residents using groundwater (wells).
37 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 2.7 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓7 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Castledale's drinking water received a grade of D+ (50 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 8 water systems serve approximately 8,301 residents using groundwater.
Lead levels were measured at 2.7 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 532 violations on record, including 3 health-based violations. 37 remain unresolved.
Castledale ranks #134 out of 177 cities in Utah for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state. Castledale relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. The system has seen 7 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Castledale's water
Every contaminant flagged in Castledale, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 2.7 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Utah
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Utah
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Castledale's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 532 violations on record, including 3 health-based violations. 37 remain unresolved.
4 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▲ Up 1.5 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 6.5 ppb (2025) — 43% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Castledale's water comes from
Castledale's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
8 systems
8 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
8,301 people
Residents served across Castledale's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 8,301 people through 8 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUNTINGTON - CASTLE VALLEY SSD | UTAH08006 | 2,129 | Groundwater |
| CASTLEDALE | UTAH08001 | 1,700 | Surface Water |
| FERRON - CASTLE VALLEY SSD | UTAH08004 | 1,660 | Surface Water |
| ORANGEVILLE | UTAH08008 | 1,420 | Surface Water |
| CLEVELAND WATER SYSTEM | UTAH08039 | 509 | Purchased Groundwater |
| ELMO TOWN | UTAH08040 | 368 | Purchased Groundwater |
| EMERY | UTAH08003 | 315 | Surface Water |
| CLAWSON WATER SYSTEM | UTAH08002 | 200 | Purchased Surface Water |
05Pressure on Castledale's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Drought
Emery County is in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Castledale compares
Scores for nearby Utah cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Utah average (50/100)
Castledale scores 50/100 — on par with the Utah average of 50/100. It outscores 7 of 10 nearby cities. Full Utah rankings →
35.3 / 100CWest Jordan, UT
65.1 / 100FOrem, UT
40.7 / 100FSandy, UT
39.5 / 100FLehi, UT
44.9 / 100DEagle Mountain, UT
46.9 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Castledale's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Castledale's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Castledale alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Castledale, UT tap water safe to drink?
Castledale's water quality earned a grade of D+ (50/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #134 out of 177 cities tested in Utah.
What contaminants are in Castledale's water?
Lead was measured at 2.7 ppb (90th percentile). 532 violations are on record.
How is Castledale's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Castledale?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Castledale's water come from?
Castledale's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 8 water systems serving approximately 8,301 residents.
What health violations has Castledale's water system had?
Castledale has 3 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 37 violations remain unresolved.
Is Castledale's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Castledale uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 532 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Castledale's water compare to other cities?
Castledale ranks #134 out of 177 cities in Utah (better than 24% of state cities) and #12824 out of 15382 cities nationally (17th percentile). The grade of D+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.