Local air quality can affect our lives. Like the weather, it can change from day to day. Ground-level ozone and particle pollution (particulate matter) pose the greatest threat to health in Wasatch County. Ozone can reduce lung function so that you may have feelings of chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Particle pollution is composed of microscopic solids or liquid droplets that can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Although air quality in the U.S. has generally improved substantially in recent decades, air pollution remains a significant cause of poor health.
Under normal atmospheric conditions, the air is warmer near the ground and colder at higher altitudes. In a temperature inversion, the situation “inverts,” and cold air at the surface gets trapped under a layer of warmer air. During the winter, snow-covered valley floors reflect rather than absorb heat, preventing the vertical mixing of warm and cold air that usually keeps pollutants from building up to unhealthy levels at the surface. Click on the image to enlarge.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool used by government agencies, including EPA, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, to communicate information about current and forecasted air quality conditions to the public. The purpose of the AQI is to help you understand what local air quality conditions mean for your health. The AQI converts air pollutant concentrations into a single, simple number that is easy to understand: the higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.
In Utah, the AQI is based on concentrations of the two primary air pollutants of concern, ozone and particulate matter. You can help protect your health from the effects of air pollution by monitoring air quality in your area and using the AQI to modify your activities as necessary. The adjustments that are needed when the AQI is high will vary from person to person but may include reducing the amount of time spent outdoors or choosing less strenuous activities.
The Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national air quality standards for six common air pollutants that are found throughout the United States. EPA refers to these pollutants as “criteria” pollutants because they are regulated by using human health-based and/or environmentally-based criteria to set permissible levels. The levels set by EPA are known as National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Areas are categorized as either in attainment or non-attainment based on whether they meet NAAQS. Wasatch County currently meets all NAAQS standards and is classified as an attainment area.
Everyone can play a part in keeping our air clean and healthy. Below are tips and resources to help, including specific recommendations for homes, schools, and businesses. To expand a section, click on the '+' button.
Tier 3 is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program regulating fuel efficiency in cars and the sulfur content of gasoline. This cleaner gasoline reduces the harmful emissions created by cars and helps clean the air.
Used with fully compliant vehicles, Tier 3 gasoline will reduce key emissions that contribute to ozone and particulate pollution up to 80%. When used with older vehicles, key emissions reduction is typically 13%. Although this may not sound like much, it is comparable to not driving for one day every week!
There are at least four gas stations in Wasatch County that offer Tier 3 fuel. Click the button below to find Tier 3 gas stations locally and across the state:
Find a gas station that offers Tier 3 fuel
Learn more about Tier 3 fuel by visiting www.tier3gas.org
High Valley Transit (HVT) is fare-free public transit across the Wasatch Back. Services include:
Book rides on the HVT app or by calling (435) 246-1538
Click HERE for a copy of the Utah Recess Guidance
Click HERE for a copy of the EPA's School Guidance
Drinking water comes from a variety of sources including public water systems, private wells, and bottled water. It is important to know where drinking water comes from and if it's safe to drink. Below is a brief summary of these sources, including links to helpful resources. To expand a section, click on the '+' button.
The regulation of public water systems in Utah is the responsibility of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) . The health department partners with DEQ to inspect water systems and ensure they meet standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act .
Public water systems must test their water on a regular basis; the frequency of testing depends on the size of the system — water companies with more customers must test more frequently than smaller systems with fewer customers. Water systems are required to send their users a Consumer Confidence Report annually that lists the results of their testing.
There are several public water systems operating in Wasatch County. To find out which system provides water to you, please visit deq.utah.gov/drinking-water/water-system-search-form .
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. It is recommended that well owners have the following tests performed on an annual basis:
Nitrate, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, and Total Coliforms/E.coli
For more information about private well testing, please visit the Utah Public Health Laboratory Private Wells webpage at uphl.utah.gov/environmental-chemistry-program/env_chem_privatewells/
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety of bottled water and bases its standards on the EPA standards for tap water. If these standards are met, water is considered safe for most healthy individuals. The bottled water industry must also follow FDA’s good manufacturing practices for processing and bottling drinking water.
Read the label on your bottled water to learn where the water comes from and how it has been treated to make it safe for drinking. While there is currently no standardized label for bottled water, labels may tell you about the way the water is treated. Check the label for a toll-free number or web page address of the company that bottled the water to learn more.
People use rivers and lakes for many different forms of recreation. Some recreational activities take place in or on the water, such as swimming, boating, fishing, whitewater rafting, and surfing. Other activities are enhanced by being close to water, such as hiking, nature viewing, and hunting waterfowl. Swimming and other recreational activities in contaminated water can make people ill, so criteria have been developed to protect people from organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, and their associated toxins in water bodies. Below is information about harmful algal blooms and waterborne pathogens, including links to helpful resources. To expand a section, click on the '+' button.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) develop when naturally occurring cyanobacteria in the water multiply very quickly to form green or blue-green water, scum, or mats. These blooms can produce potent cyanotoxins that pose serious health risks to humans, pets, and livestock. The health department may issue health watches and advisories if harmful algae are present in waterbodies in Wasatch County. For more information about HABs, please visit habs.utah.gov .
Recreational water illnesses are caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the water. These waterborne pathogens can cause diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever, and rashes. People can be exposed to these pathogens if they swallow water when they swim or eat food without washing their hands first. For more information, visit deq.utah.gov/water-quality/recreational-water-quality-home#e-coli .
The health department operates a water quality lab that tests for bacteria in drinking water and swimming pools. These tests identify the level of total coliform bacteria and E. coli.
Testing is available for the general public and regulated entities. The lab is certified by the State of Utah and meets requirements for monthly regulatory coliform testing for drinking water systems and swimming pools.
The lab is located in Room 120 of the Wasatch County Community Services Building (the building that houses the health department)
Samples may be submitted Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Thursday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Culinary Water: $25.00 per sample
Swimming Pool: $28.00 per sample
Under the direction of the Environmental Health Division, SWCA Environmental Consultants conducted a two-year study of groundwater resources in the Heber and Round Valleys. Completed in the fall of 2020, this study serves as an update to a similar study done more than 30 years ago by Hansen, Allen, and Luce (HAL) in 1994. The SWCA study included the following objectives:
Hazardous materials include any substance that can be toxic or damaging to human health or the environment when not handled or disposed of properly. Click on the buttons below to see some examples of hazardous products found in homes as well as a searchable database of facilities where you can recycle and/or dispose of these products.
Possible Home Hazards
Database of Recycle/Disposal Facilities
To learn more about the specific hazardous materials below, including proper handling and disposal, click each heading to expand.
Electronic cigarettes contain liquid nicotine or nicotine residue and may contain lithium batteries. Under Utah law, nicotine and lithium ion batteries are hazardous wastes that must be disposed of properly. Liquid nicotine cannot go down the drain and cartridges/pods (used or unused) cannot be thrown in the garbage. For more information on how to properly dispose of e-cigarette waste, please visit ecigwaste.utah.gov
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Mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal that's unique for being a liquid at room temperature. It’s been used in industrial processes, medical tools, and household items like thermometers and fluorescent bulbs. While mercury is found in the Earth’s crust, human activities such as coal burning and gold mining have increased its presence in the environment. Because mercury can evaporate into toxic vapor and pose serious health and environmental risks, safe handling and proper disposal are essential. Below is a brief summary of these risks. To expand a section, click on the '+' button.
Exposure to elemental mercury, especially through inhalation of its vapors, can lead to serious health issues, including (WHO, 2024):
Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable, as mercury can impair fetal development and cause developmental delays in children.
When mercury gets into rivers, lakes, or oceans, tiny organisms in the water can change it into a more dangerous form. This toxic form can pose risks not only to aquatic life but ultimately to humans who consume contaminated fish and seafood.
Mercury-containing products need special care when it's time to toss them. Simple steps like using proper disposal or recycling options can help keep our water, air, and communities safe. Below are options that are more locally available to you. Call or visit a facility's website to see which mercury-containing products are accepted and if an appointment is needed.
For questions about mercury, please contact:
kepperson@wasatch.utah.gov
Properly disposing of unwanted medications may be inconvenient, but there are important reasons to do so in a safe and responsible manner.
Drugs that are flushed down the toilet cannot be removed by the sewage treatment plants or septic system processes. These substances are released into waterways, which can lead to contamination of surface and groundwater. Septic tank systems may release the pharmaceuticals into the soil, from which they may reach the groundwater. For more information, please visit wasatch.utah.gov/KnowWhereTheyGo
Prescription medications that are no longer being used or are outdated can be dropped off at these local sites:
Medications and prescriptions that are tossed into the disposal, dumped down the drain, or flushed down the toilet can cause harmful impacts to our environment and water systems. Another proper disposal method is to purchase a drug deactivator bag, pour in the prescription pills, and then dispose of it.
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There are 7 facilities in Wasatch County that accept used oil for proper recycling. Statewide, Used Oil Collection Centers (UOCCs) are classified as types A, B, C, or D; however, all UOCCs in Wasatch County are either type A or B. This means they accept used oil from Do-It-Yourselfers (up to 5 gallons per visit) or farmers (up to 55 gallons per visit). To learn more about the different types of collection centers or find sites in other parts of Utah, visit UsedOil.utah.gov .
A used oil permit is generally required for companies involved in transporting, processing, re-refining, or burning used oil, as well as for those operating used oil transfer facilities. "Used oil" is defined as any oil, whether refined from crude oil or synthetic, that has been used and contaminated by physical or chemical impurities.
To learn more about specific regulation requirements and codes, click below:
To apply or ask questions regarding a used oil permit, please contact:
lhastings@wasatch.utah.gov
Other hazardous materials may include electronics, paints, antifreeze, household cleaners, etc. There are no disposal locations in Wasatch County for these items, but residents can make an appointment at Veolia North America ($1-$2 per pound with some minimums for specific items) to dispose of these materials there. See contact information below: