Report on Pleasant Grove’s Drinking Water Quality and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The city of Pleasant Grove, Utah, has achieved a perfect score on the state-mandated sanitary survey conducted by the Utah Division of Drinking Water. This exceptional accomplishment, which found zero deficiencies in the city’s water system, directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) for Clean Water and Sanitation. The achievement underscores the city’s commitment to public health, sustainable infrastructure, and sets a benchmark for other municipalities.

State-Level Recognition for Water System Excellence

The Triennial Sanitary Survey

In accordance with state regulations, all public drinking water systems in Utah undergo a comprehensive inspection every three years. The sanitary survey evaluates critical infrastructure and operational integrity to identify and mitigate potential public health risks. The assessment includes:

• System construction and infrastructure integrity
• Operational procedures and daily management
• Record-keeping and documentation
• Cleanliness of facilities, including spring collection boxes, wells, and tanks

A Rare Achievement: Zero Deficiencies

Neal Winterton, Public Works Director for Pleasant Grove, described the inspection as a “white-glove” test of the system’s overall delivery. In a formal commendation, Tom McOmie, a program manager for the state’s Division of Drinking Water, highlighted the rarity of the outcome, stating, “What stood out most during this inspection was that I did not issue a single deficiency–an outcome that is exceptionally rare… It is a true testament to the caliber of your staff and the high standards you uphold.” The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) confirms that achieving a perfect score is highly uncommon, making Pleasant Grove’s system a model for best practices in the state.

Contribution to Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Pleasant Grove’s performance is a direct and measurable contribution to the targets outlined in SDG 6. The city’s success demonstrates a localized implementation of global sustainability objectives.

1. Target 6.1: Safe and Affordable Drinking Water: By maintaining a system free of deficiencies, the city ensures it provides its community with universal and equitable access to safe drinking water, a cornerstone of this target.
2. Target 6.3: Improve Water Quality: The perfect score signifies the highest level of water quality, achieved through proactive management that prevents contamination from surrounding land use, thereby reducing pollution and protecting water sources.

Broader Impacts on Sustainability and Well-being

The city’s commitment to water quality extends to other interconnected SDGs:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The provision of safe, reliable drinking water is fundamental to public health, preventing waterborne diseases and promoting community well-being.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: A flawlessly managed water system is a critical component of resilient and sustainable urban infrastructure, ensuring the delivery of essential services to residents.

Continuous Improvement and Future Commitments

Progress and Personnel Recognition

This 2025 report marks a significant improvement from the 2022 survey, which had identified the water system’s susceptibility to contamination. This progress reflects a dedicated effort to enhance infrastructure and operational protocols. In recognition of this achievement, the City Council honored key members of the Public Works Department for their professionalism and attention to detail:

• Drew Hoffman, Water and Sewer Division Manager
• Derrick Rowberry, Water Quality Foreman
• Trevor Workman, Culinary Water Foreman

Future Outlook

Water and Sewer Division Manager Drew Hoffman affirmed that this result is a foundation for future work. He stated the department’s ultimate goal is to consistently maintain this high standard, ensuring the long-term health and safety of the community and reinforcing the city’s ongoing commitment to the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The issues discussed in the article are primarily connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text focuses on the quality of drinking water in the city of Pleasant Grove. The state recognition for a “perfect score” in the sanitary survey directly relates to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water. The article highlights the city’s efforts in maintaining clean water facilities, including “spring collection boxes, wells, tanks and overall delivery,” which is central to the mission of SDG 6.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article explicitly links water quality to public health. The purpose of the sanitary inspections is to “identify conditions that may present a sanitary or public health risk.” The letter from the Division of Drinking Water commends the city’s “commitment to public health.” By ensuring the water is free of deficiencies and contamination, the city is directly contributing to preventing waterborne diseases and promoting the well-being of its residents, which aligns with SDG 3.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  Providing safe and reliable drinking water is a fundamental service for any sustainable city. The article showcases effective urban management by highlighting the success of the “public works department.” The achievement of a perfect score, described as a “model for others to follow,” demonstrates a high standard of municipal service delivery and infrastructure management, which is a key aspect of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Specific SDG Targets

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

   The article focuses on the quality and safety of the public drinking water system in Pleasant Grove. The “perfect score” and the statement that the inspection “did not issue a single deficiency” indicate that the city is providing safely managed drinking water to its population. This directly supports the goal of ensuring access to safe drinking water.

2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution…

   The article mentions that the 2025 report is an “improvement from a previous survey in 2022,” when the water system was found to be “somewhat susceptible to potential sources of contamination.” The achievement of a perfect score in 2025 demonstrates a successful effort to improve water quality by mitigating these risks and protecting water sources from contamination.

3. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   The sanitary survey’s purpose is to find and eliminate “public health risk[s].” By maintaining a water system with zero deficiencies, Pleasant Grove is actively working to prevent illnesses that arise from water contamination, directly contributing to this target.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 6.1: Results of the state-mandated sanitary survey.

  The “perfect score” in the sanitary survey is a direct, albeit qualitative, indicator of the quality and safety of the drinking water service. The article states this survey evaluates “construction, operations and record keeping” and that a perfect score is “exceptionally rare.” This score serves as a measure of a “safely managed drinking water service.”

• Indicator for Target 6.3: Number of deficiencies identified in the water system inspection.

  The fact that the inspector “did not issue a single deficiency” is a key performance indicator mentioned in the article. Comparing this to the 2022 survey, which found the system “somewhat susceptible to potential sources of contamination,” shows a measurable improvement in protecting water quality.

• Indicator for Target 3.9: Absence of identified public health risks in the water supply.

  The sanitary survey is designed to “identify conditions that may present a sanitary or public health risk.” The absence of any such identified risks, as confirmed by the perfect score, is an indicator that the city is successfully reducing the potential for illnesses from water contamination.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: heraldextra.com