A second round of tests conducted by an independent laboratory on the water supply in South Jordan City came up clean, according to results released Wednesday afternoon.
After drawing samples from more than 20 sites and inspecting them for more than 30 different elements, including contamination by chromium-6, a metallic element that in excessive amounts can cause skin burns and more serious diseases, the city has determined its supply is not the cause of the skin problems some residents have complained about in recent days.
“We feel good about eliminating our water system as a source for these health concerns residents are experiencing,” said Raymond Garrison, associate public works director for South Jordan City, in a video update posted to the city’s website Wednesday afternoon.
That means the water is "safe to drink” and “safe to use,” said Rachael Van Cleave, a spokeswoman with the southwest Salt Lake County city.
The water inspections began after several residents — two of them in Daybreak, one just outside and one in another area of the city — filed formal complaints to the city, while others raised concerns and questions on Facebook.
One of the Daybreak residents tested the water with a consumer test strip on Sunday and saw results indicating the presence of chromium-6. That resident also said family members had experienced skin irritation.
An initial test of the water gave early signs the water wasn’t contaminated, but Van Cleave said the city wanted to “make sure we left no stone unturned with our testing.”
The city initially reported an estimated cost for the tests at $6,000, but with rush fees and when all testing was completed, the cost ended up being more than $11,000, according to a news release from the city.
The city has invited the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District to do its own independent testing, which Van Cleave told The Salt Lake Tribune is expected to be completed sometime Thursday.
The water in nearby Sandy was contaminated early this year after a fluoridation pump malfunctioned because of a power outage at one of the city’s wells. The response to that incident was much slower, with several residents expressing frustration that they were allowed to drink possibly tainted water for a week before they heard about problems with the water supply.
South Jordan’s water testing has ruled out the possibility of over-fluoridation and also tested for chlorine, full metals and other chemicals.
While the source of residents’ skin irritation remains unclear, the city is encouraging anyone experiencing symptoms to fill out a survey providing more information. The city plans to share those details with the Salt Lake County Health Department, which will be looking for trends “or anything they can pinpoint that’s going on,” Van Cleave said in the video.
Residents can do that at sjc.utah.gov/water-update.
