South Salt Lake Reports Elevated Manganese Levels In Drinking Water

SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah — South Salt Lake officials alerted residents Friday to the presence of elevated manganese levels in the city’s drinking water system.

The alert does not mean residents need to boil their drinking water, but the city said residents should avoid using tap water to make bottles or food for infants under the age of 6 months until further notice.

In a news release, South Salt Lake officials said there are no federal public health regulations for manganese in drinking water, an element that occurs naturally and that both humans and animals need. For most people, the city said elevated manganese levels should not result in any negative health consequences.

However, it can be harmful to infants under 6 months old. The city said it sent out the alert because the manganese concentration for the well near 300 East was above the Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory level for the element.

South Salt Lake drinking water customers between 2100 South and 3300 South that have an infant under 6 months of age, occupants with liver disease or elderly occupants in their household can pick up one free case of bottled water at Fire Station 41, located at 2600 South Main St.

See KSL NewsRadio for the latest details.