Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Utah Drinking Water

Ranked by nitrate violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

167

Cities Tested

167

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

11.4 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

150

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Utah: what the data shows

Utah has 167 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 167 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Utah

100%

167 of 167 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Utah

Each dot is a city with nitrate violation data. Cities with at least one nitrate-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Utah

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Utah cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Cedar City	111 violations	Yes	115	F
2	Heber City	54 violations	Yes	34	F
3	St George	54 violations	Yes	20	D
4	Orem	51 violations	Yes	76	F
5	Monument Valley	51 violations	Yes	6	D+
6	Moab	49 violations	Yes	10	D
7	Spanish Fork	44 violations	Yes	26	F
8	Tremonton	38 violations	Yes	27	D
9	Provo	33 violations	Yes	45	D
10	Parowan	32 violations	Yes	20	D+
11	Tropic	31 violations	Yes	4	D
12	Eden	27 violations	Yes	27	D
13	Elsinore	27 violations	Yes	31	D+
14	Ogden	25 violations	Yes	5	F
15	Monticello	25 violations	Yes	15	F
16	New Harmony	25 violations	Yes	26	D+
17	Ft. Duchesne	24 violations	Yes	18	F
18	Eureka	24 violations	Yes	5	D+
19	Salt Lake City	23 violations	Yes	26	F
20	Park City	23 violations	Yes	10	F
21	Castledale	23 violations	Yes	3	D+
22	Wellsville	22 violations	Yes	16	D+
23	Mapleton	22 violations	Yes	4	C+
24	Central Valley	22 violations	Yes	2	B-
25	Coalville	21 violations	Yes	21	F
26	Kanab	21 violations	Yes	14	D+
27	Apple Valley	21 violations	Yes	28	D
28	Oakley	20 violations	Yes	17	D
29	Stockton	19 violations	Yes	2	A-
30	Torrey	18 violations	Yes	8	B
31	Manila	18 violations	Yes	23	C-
32	Deweyville	18 violations	Yes	20	C-
33	Mountain Green	17 violations	Yes	9	B
34	Hildale	16 violations	Yes	2	F
35	Fielding	16 violations	Yes	12	C+
36	Sandy	15 violations	Yes	13	F
37	Eagle Mountain	15 violations	Yes	25	D
38	Bluffdale	15 violations	Yes	7	C
39	Enterprise	15 violations	Yes	15	B-
40	Midway	15 violations	Yes	23	D+
41	Kaysville	14 violations	Yes	7	C+
42	Delta	14 violations	Yes	20	D
43	Kamas	14 violations	Yes	54	D
44	Lehi	13 violations	Yes	17	F
45	South Jordan	13 violations	Yes	4	C+
46	Draper	13 violations	Yes	18	F
47	Centerfield	13 violations	Yes	2	D+
48	Morni	13 violations	Yes	2	D
49	Corinne	13 violations	Yes	6	B-
50	Saratoga Springs	12 violations	Yes	16	F
51	North Salt Lake	12 violations	Yes	4	C-
52	West Jordan	11 violations	Yes	7	C+
53	Brigham City	11 violations	Yes	14	C-
54	Bountiful	11 violations	Yes	9	D
55	Elwood	11 violations	Yes	8	B-
56	Blanding	11 violations	Yes	9	F
57	Paradise	11 violations	Yes	19	C-
58	Dammeron Valley	11 violations	Yes	5	B
59	Hurricane	10 violations	Yes	8	C+
60	Tooele	10 violations	Yes	5	F
61	North Ogden	10 violations	Yes	13	D
62	Payson	10 violations	Yes	19	D
63	Vernal	10 violations	Yes	1	C+
64	Price	10 violations	Yes	5	D
65	Morgan	10 violations	Yes	28	D
66	Francis	10 violations	Yes	2	B
67	Leeds	10 violations	Yes	18	B
68	Heber	10 violations	Yes	6	D
69	Mayfield	10 violations	Yes	0	A-
70	Panguitch	9 violations	Yes	0	B+
71	Willard	9 violations	Yes	10	B
72	Fruitland	9 violations	Yes	15	B
73	Goshen	9 violations	Yes	4	B
74	Escalante	9 violations	Yes	3	C+
75	Tabiona	9 violations	Yes	13	C-
76	Lincoln	9 violations	Yes	1	B-
77	St George City	8 violations	Yes	4	B+
78	Santaquin	8 violations	Yes	1	D
79	Monroe	8 violations	Yes	0	A-
80	Fairview	8 violations	Yes	2	A-
81	Mendon	8 violations	Yes	1	A
82	Woodland Hills	8 violations	Yes	4	B
83	Erda	8 violations	Yes	3	A-
84	Spring City	8 violations	Yes	10	B+
85	Bullfrog	8 violations	Yes	0	B-
86	Kanosh	8 violations	Yes	2	B+
87	Springdale	8 violations	Yes	0	A-
88	Roy	7 violations	Yes	1	B-
89	Mount Pleasant	7 violations	Yes	17	C+
90	River Heights	7 violations	Yes	6	B+
91	Mona	7 violations	Yes	4	A-
92	Henefer	7 violations	Yes	0	A
93	Levan	7 violations	Yes	1	A-
94	Newton	7 violations	Yes	1	A-
95	Veyo	7 violations	Yes	5	A-
96	Springville	6 violations	Yes	8	C
97	Santa Clara	6 violations	Yes	0	B+
98	Beaver	6 violations	Yes	2	B
99	Gunnison	6 violations	Yes	12	A-
100	East Carbon	6 violations	Yes	6	B
101	Dutch John	6 violations	Yes	0	B
102	Circleville	6 violations	Yes	3	C+
103	Kearns	5 violations	Yes	6	B
104	Clinton	5 violations	Yes	9	C+
105	Farr West	5 violations	Yes	7	B-
106	Smithfield	5 violations	Yes	3	F
107	Ivins	5 violations	Yes	6	B+
108	West Point	5 violations	Yes	5	B
109	Hyrum	5 violations	Yes	0	A
110	Manti	5 violations	Yes	1	B+
111	Garland	5 violations	Yes	1	C-
112	Salina	5 violations	Yes	0	A-
113	Millville	5 violations	Yes	8	A-
114	Genola	5 violations	Yes	1	A
115	Fountain Green	5 violations	Yes	0	B
116	Loa	5 violations	Yes	11	B+
117	Oak City	5 violations	Yes	8	B+
118	Herriman	4 violations	Yes	13	D+
119	Stansbury Park	4 violations	Yes	15	C+
120	Roosevelt	4 violations	Yes	3	D
121	Duchesne	4 violations	Yes	8	F
122	Honeyville	4 violations	Yes	9	B+
123	Wendover	4 violations	Yes	2	A-
124	Clevland	4 violations	Yes	1	A
125	Bear River	4 violations	Yes	9	B+
126	Orderville	4 violations	Yes	5	A
127	Clarkston	4 violations	Yes	2	A-
128	Layton	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
129	Perry	3 violations	Yes	2	A-
130	Wellington	3 violations	Yes	0	B+
131	Virgin	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
132	Milford	3 violations	Yes	3	A
133	Rocky Ridge	3 violations	Yes	4	A
134	Myton	3 violations	Yes	0	B+
135	Annabella	3 violations	Yes	9	A-
136	Benson	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
137	Paragonah	3 violations	Yes	9	A-
138	Magna	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
139	West Haven	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
140	Riverdale	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
141	Richfield	2 violations	Yes	13	A-
142	Alta	2 violations	Yes	2	C+
143	Lewiston	2 violations	Yes	1	A
144	Toquerville	2 violations	Yes	1	A
145	Billings	2 violations	Yes	1	B
146	Altamont	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
147	Redmond	2 violations	Yes	4	A
148	Montpelier	2 violations	Yes	0	A
149	Riverton	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
150	Syracuse	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
151	Plain City	1 violations	Yes	2	B
152	Tridell	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
153	Washington Terrace	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
154	Ephraim	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
155	Fruit Heights	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
156	Woods Cross	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
157	Millcreek	1 violations	Yes	3	A
158	La Verkin	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
159	Fillmore	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
160	Uintah City	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
161	Montua	1 violations	Yes	7	B-
162	Aurora	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
163	Green River	1 violations	Yes	5	B+
164	South Rim	1 violations	Yes	6	A
165	Minersville	1 violations	Yes	0	A
166	Hinckley	1 violations	Yes	7	C+
167	City	1 violations	Yes	3	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Utah

Is nitrate in Utah tap water dangerous?

Yes — 167 cities in Utah have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Utah water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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