AMPAC Water Systems builds reverse osmosis systems in Woods Cross, Utah, a few miles north of Salt Lake City. In this part of the state, hardness and dissolved minerals cause more trouble than contamination does. Tap water on the northern Wasatch Front meets federal health standards. But it runs 10 to 18 grains per gallon hard, and in some areas total dissolved solids average above 700 ppm. Private wells and brackish groundwater are a different story: nobody tests them for you. Below, Utah’s common water problems are matched to what fixes them, with links to the equipment and guides. AMPAC installs and services systems on site anywhere in Utah, and you can collect equipment from the Woods Cross facility or have it shipped.
What is actually in Utah tap water?
Weber Basin Water Conservancy District supplies wholesale water across Davis and Weber counties. Its 2025 water quality report lists the figures below. They are averages from district sampling, and your own tap can differ. For Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, St. George and six other providers, see Utah water hardness and TDS by city.
| Measure | Weber Basin 2025 report | Reference point |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 10-18 grains per gallon (171-308 ppm) | USGS calls anything above 180 mg/L “very hard” |
| Total dissolved solids, north system | 214 ppm average | EPA secondary guideline: 500 mg/L |
| Total dissolved solids, central system | 377 ppm average | EPA secondary guideline: 500 mg/L |
| Total dissolved solids, south system | 738 ppm average (488-988) | EPA secondary guideline: 500 mg/L |
| Arsenic | under 1.3 ppb at the highest reading | EPA limit: 10 ppb |
| Nitrate (as N) | 3.48 ppm at the highest reading | EPA limit: 10 ppm |
So the public supply is safe to drink, but most of it is very hard, and in the south system dissolved solids sit above the level where taste, spotting and scale become noticeable. Those problems call for softening or reverse osmosis, not disinfection. The drought adds pressure too. As of September 15, 2026, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed all of Utah in drought, so it pays to plan for water that is scarcer and harder to treat.
Which treatment fits which Utah water problem?
| Problem | Where you see it | What treats it | Start here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water and scale | Most Wasatch Front homes and businesses | A softener for the whole building; reverse osmosis for drinking and process water | RO vs water softener |
| High TDS, salty or mineral taste | Parts of the public supply, many wells | Reverse osmosis | Residential RO systems |
| Iron, sediment, staining | Private wells | Sediment filtration, then iron treatment | Iron in well water |
| Bacteria risk | Private wells, cabins, remote sites | UV disinfection after filtration | UV disinfection products |
| Nitrate | Wells near agriculture | Reverse osmosis or ion exchange | Nitrate removal from well water |
| Brackish groundwater | Wells and industrial sources in the West | Brackish-water RO | Brackish water desalination in Utah |
| Process water spec (boilers, food, labs) | Manufacturing and commercial sites | Commercial or industrial RO | Commercial RO systems |
Private wells in Utah: you are the water utility
The Safe Drinking Water Act does not cover private wells, so the owner is responsible for the water. The Utah Public Health Laboratory advises testing at least once a year for nitrate, pH, total dissolved solids and coliform/E. coli. Get the test done before you buy equipment. The results tell you which of the problems above you actually have.
- How to test your home water quality
- Water softeners for well water
- Removing iron from well water
- Nitrate removal from well water
- UV water treatment systems
- Sediment filters and cartridges
- Water filters
Commercial and industrial water treatment in Utah
AMPAC engineers and manufactures commercial, industrial and seawater reverse osmosis systems at its Woods Cross facility, and has supplied customers in more than 120 countries. For a Utah business, being close to the factory means you can talk to the engineers who build the skid. Hard water scales RO membranes, so a Utah system has to be sized with pretreatment and recovery set for local chemistry, not a catalog default.
- Commercial reverse osmosis systems: 100 to 8,000 GPD
- Industrial reverse osmosis systems
- Brackish water RO systems
- Zero liquid discharge and water reuse
- Industrial water reuse guide
- Water treatment for restaurants
- Water treatment for craft breweries
- All industries we serve
- RO system calculators: size recovery, output and scaling before you ask for a quote
Installation, service and pickup
Buying from a manufacturer down the road changes what happens after the sale. AMPAC installs and services systems on site across Utah, so a customer here is not shipping a skid back across the country to get it looked at. For equipment you would rather collect yourself, pick it up at the Woods Cross facility. Everything else ships.
- On-site installation and service statewide, by the people who build the systems
- Pickup at 2262 S 1200 W, Suite #103, Woods Cross, UT 84087
- Shipping for systems, membranes, lamps and parts
- Call (385) 530-1026 to arrange installation, a service visit or a pickup time
Utah water supply and drought
The Great Salt Lake reached a record low of 4,188.5 feet in November 2022. Groundwater also matters: in 2005 the Salt Lake Valley aquifer supplied about 29% of the water used by close to a million people in the valley. As supply tightens, reuse and brackish sources become worth pricing.
- Utah’s record drought and what it means for commercial water systems
- Salt Lake City’s water reclamation facility
- Brackish water desalination in Utah and the West
Replacement membranes, lamps and parts
AMPAC stocks consumables for its own systems and for common RO and UV equipment.
- RO membrane elements and brackish water RO membranes
- Toray membranes and Hydron / Hydronix
- UV replacement lamps
- RO parts and components
- Booster and delivery pumps
Frequently asked questions
Is Utah tap water safe to drink?
Water from the regulated public supply meets federal health standards. In Weber Basin’s 2025 report, arsenic and nitrate were far below the EPA limits. Most complaints in Utah are about hardness, scale and mineral taste. Those are quality issues, not safety issues.
How hard is the water in Davis County?
Weber Basin Water Conservancy District reports 10 to 18 grains per gallon (171 to 308 ppm). USGS classifies anything above 180 mg/L as very hard, so most of that range is very hard water.
Do I need a water softener or reverse osmosis in Utah?
Often both, for different jobs. A softener protects plumbing and appliances throughout the building. Reverse osmosis lowers total dissolved solids for drinking or process water. If you only care about taste and drinking water, a point-of-use RO system may be enough.
How often should a Utah private well be tested?
The Utah Public Health Laboratory recommends at least once a year for nitrate, pH, total dissolved solids and coliform/E. coli. Test again after flooding, repairs or any change in taste, color or smell.
Do you install and service systems anywhere in Utah?
Yes, anywhere in Utah. AMPAC installs systems on site and services them. Call (385) 530-1026 with your location and what you are running, and the team will arrange a visit.
Can I pick up a system instead of having it shipped?
Yes. Collect it at the Woods Cross facility, 2262 S 1200 W, Suite #103, or have it shipped. Call ahead so the equipment is ready when you arrive.
Where is AMPAC Water Systems located?
2262 S 1200 W, Suite #103, Woods Cross, UT 84087. Call (385) 530-1026 or email info@ampacwatersystems.com.
How do I get a system sized for my water?
Send a recent water analysis, your daily demand and the water quality you need. Call (385) 530-1026 or request a quote, and the engineering team will size the system for your actual water.
Talk to AMPAC in Woods Cross
AMPAC Water Systems
2262 S 1200 W, Suite #103, Woods Cross, UT 84087
Phone: (385) 530-1026 · Email: info@ampacwatersystems.com
On-site installation and service anywhere in Utah, pickup at the Woods Cross facility, or shipping.
Sources
- Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, 2025 Water Quality Report
- U.S. Geological Survey, Hardness of Water
- U.S. EPA, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and Secondary Drinking Water Standards
- U.S. EPA, Private Drinking Water Wells
- Utah Public Health Laboratory, Private Wells
- Drought.gov (NIDIS), Drought conditions in Utah, data valid September 15, 2026
- U.S. Geological Survey, Great Salt Lake elevations
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 2010-3073, Salt Lake Valley groundwater