The Stansbury Park system is a State "approved" system. This means that it must meet the criteria and regulations imposed by the Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some of the requirements are as follows:
- Inspections are performed by the Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water, or the Tooele County Health Department, together with regular sampling for microbiological, radiological, and inorganic constituents. The District's system has been satisfactory in these types of samples.
- Another sample that is now being required is for regulated and non-regulated volatile organic chemicals or (VOC). This is a test for 50 organic chemicals. The system has been found to be below the EPA's maximum threshold for all 50 chemicals.
- All samples taken are sent to a State-approved laboratory for analysis, and the results are sent to the Division of Drinking Water.
- Another requirement for an "approved" system is for that system to have a policy to protect, promote, and provide for the control of cross connections. A cross-connection is a situation where a water supply line is connected to equipment containing a non-potable (unfit to drink) substance. The District has adopted its own ordinance for the control of backflow and cross-connections. Water systems are designed for water to flow from the system to you. However, certain conditions within the system may cause the water to flow in the opposite direction in unprotected systems. This is called "backflow." In unprotected systems, the backflow could contaminate the water, causing consumers to become very sick. A dual check valve is installed at your meter if it is a new house.
If back siphonage occurs, the dual check valve shuts, preventing water or non-potable substances from potential cross-connections to enter the distribution system. The dual check valve protects the District's distribution system but does not protect your system from backflow from your own sprinkling system or hose bibs. You should be aware of any cross connections on your side of the meter and take steps to prevent them by installing a check valve or backflow prevention device. It is your responsibility to purchase, install, and maintain any backflow prevention device/assembly required. The most common hazards requiring a backflow prevention device are sprinkler systems and hose bibs. Please call our office when installing a sprinkler system for more information.
Thermal expansion is created when the hot water heater in your home heats the water from cold to hot. When this happens, water will expand in volume. If there is no demand for hot water, the expanded volume has no place to go causing tremendous pressure build up in the water lines. It is your responsibility to either install an approved expansion tank, usually installed near your water heater, or an approved expansion relief valve. This valve does not replace the thermal relief valve on the water heater. The safety relief valve located on your hot water heater, usually set at 150 PSI, opens and relieves pressure. However, long before the 150 PSI is reached, potentially dangerous pressures are continually being exerted on the water heater, fittings, fixtures and appliances. Thermal expansion, unchecked or uncontrolled, can rupture piping and even dramatically reduce the life of your appliances.
As the State of Utah and the EPA continue to impose stricter rules and regulations on culinary water systems, we will continue to work to upgrade the community's system, maintain our "approved" status, and provide a safe, quality supply of water to you, the customer.