Watershed Planning and Restoration Program
Water Quality
Water Quality | Beneficial Use | Watershed Impairments
Watershed Water Quality Impairments
On a semi-annual basis, the Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) develops lists of impaired waters in the state. Impaired waters are those waterbodies that currently fail to meet water quality standards established by the state even after point sources have implemented the minimum required levels of pollution control technology.
The semi-annual assessment conducted by DWQ is mandated under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and results in the listing of impaired waters on what is known as the 303(d) list. Subsequent to listing, the State is required to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to reduce pollutant levels in impaired waters.
The following are sections of surface water in the Jordan River Watershed that have been placed on the State's 303(d) list of impaired water bodies.
| Assessment Unit Description | Class | Pollutant |
| Jordan River from Farmington Bay upstream 6.1 miles |
3C | Dissolved Oxygen |
| Jordan River from Farmington Bay upstream 6.1 miles |
4 | Salinity, TDS, and Chlorides |
| Jordan River from 6.3 miles upstream to North Temple |
3B | Dissolved Oxygen |
| Jordan River from Bluffdale to Narrows |
3A | Temperature |
| Emigration Creek and tributaries from Foothill BLVD to headwaters |
2B | Pathogens |
| Little Cottonwood Creek Metropolitan WWTP to headwaters |
3A | Zinc |
| Little Cottonwood Creek confluence with Jordan River to Forest Service Boundary |
4 | TDS |
| * Jordan River 2100 S. to Cudahy Ln. |
2B | Pathogens |
| * Jordan River 5400 S. to Cudahy Ln. |
2B, 3B | Total Phosphorus |
* Anticipated listing of Jordan River segments.
Based on the 2004 Jordan River Water Quality Assessment.