Herriman podcast explains city water sources, EPA safety limits and winter maintenance for residents

Herriman City communications manager John LaFollette and Will Schwartz, the city's water quality and conservation coordinator, used the Oct. 16 episode of the Herriminology podcast to explain local water sources, regulatory safety standards and seasonal maintenance steps residents should take for appliances and softeners.

Will Schwartz described how Herriman receives a blend of supplies, including local deep wells and treated surface water from the Jordan Valley Conservancy District's intake sourced at Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs. "They're upgrading, to increase their capacity," Schwartz said, noting that some parts of the city receive mostly Jordan Valley water while other neighborhoods rely more on local wells.

Schwartz and LaFollette discussed water hardness and how it affects household systems. Schwartz said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state regulators set conservative standards and distinguish between safety limits and aesthetic issues. He explained that hardness varies by neighborhood because water supplies mix differently across the distribution system and gave the EPA's hardness context: "anything over 10 grains per gallon is extremely hard," while noting much of Utah is generally hard by national standards.

To illustrate regulatory conservatism on contaminants, Schwartz walked listeners through a radioactivity example tied to a monitoring metric called gross alpha. "I did the math one time," he said. "If you were to somehow, in one sitting, ingest 30,000 gallons... it would be equivalent to having an iodine thyroid test," a comparison he used to reassure listeners that routine monitoring keeps levels far below thresholds of public-health concern.

The hosts advised practical steps for residents as the city shifts supplies for winter. LaFollette said mid-October is when secondary irrigation systems are typically shut off and Jordan Valley water will be more dominant. "Now is the time," he said, urging residents to note their current water-softener settings for spring and to adjust softeners for the colder months when source blends change.

Schwartz recommended annual maintenance for conventional tank water heaters to remove mineral buildup, and suggested homeowners hire a professional if unsure. He also recommended activated-carbon filters (for taste) or inline options for those who want additional in-home filtration. "We're constantly monitoring the water to make sure that it's safe," Schwartz added, directing residents with questions to contact Herriman City customer service.

The episode closed with a reminder that the city will produce more water-quality videos and that listeners can email communications@herriman.gov with questions. LaFollette also briefly noted an upcoming Trader Joe's at the Herriman Town Center and said economic-development staff would discuss details in a future episode.

The podcast provided an informational overview rather than new policy or regulatory changes; residents with technical concerns were directed to contact city staff for location-specific guidance and to verify softener settings.