The most recent iteration of the Moab City Water Quality Report, with monitoring from January 1 to December 31, 2021, found that the city’s drinking water “meets federal and state requirements.”
Levi Jones, the city’s public works director, presented the results to the city council during the regular meeting on May 10. The most significant changes in this report from last year’s were changes in sodium and sulfate, he said, which rose a bit but are still at safe levels. Water in Utah, in general, is considered very “hard”, meaning it contains sulfates and silicas. It’s still safe to drink but may make washing more difficult, as the minerals can prevent soap from lathering.
The presence of lead and copper in water are a “huge concern,” Jones said. The city knows of 40 homes that are at risk of having lead and copper in the water due to their pipes. Those homes are tested every three years, Jones said. The city last tested for lead and copper in 2019 and found almost no traces of either, and will test the homes again this year. If any residents know their homes have corrosive or old plumbing units and want to get on the city’s list, Jones encouraged them to contact him at 435-259-7485.
Jones said he gets a lot of calls about discolored water, and said discolored water is still safe to drink. Moab’s Drinking Water Source Protection Plan found that the city’s water sources have a “low level of susceptibility from potential contamination.” Discolored water is usually caused by a water line break, which can let in sand, Jones said.
“It’s still safe to drink, it just doesn’t look pretty,” Jones said.
Water utility meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at City Hall at 7 p.m., and residents are encouraged to attend if they want to learn more. There will also be a public works meet and greet on Wednesday, May 18, at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center (111 E. 100 N.) from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
