Many residents of Salt Lake County notice that their skin feels dry, often after showers or washing. A common observation at the tap or bathroom faucet is a feeling of tightness on the skin, sometimes accompanied by dryness. Understanding the mineral content in the local water supply can help clarify why this happens and what options exist for relief.
Belief: Untreated Mineral-Linked Dry Skin Will Worsen Gradually Over Years
When dry skin associated with water minerals is left unmanaged, it does not necessarily worsen in all cases, but it can persist as a chronic irritation. Prolonged exposure to higher levels of calcium and magnesium—common in Salt Lake County waters—may contribute to ongoing dryness and discomfort, especially for individuals with sensitive skin. This can affect quality of life but does not indicate a safety hazard or health violation in the water supply.
Belief: Well Depth or Water Source Uniformly Predicts Skin Impact
Salt Lake County’s aquifer 100VLFL shows a wide range of calcium and magnesium concentrations measured in wells from 23 to 1385 feet deep. The median calcium plus magnesium level recorded is 500 mg/L, with values ranging from 44.5 mg/L up to 1420 mg/L. This range means that mineral content—and thus potential skin effects—can vary significantly depending on the local well and its depth. No single depth guarantees the mineral levels that cause dry skin, so individual water testing is necessary to know specifics.
Belief: A Certified Lab Test Simply Reports a Single Number for Calcium and Magnesium
A laboratory test for calcium and magnesium in your household water will report concentrations typically in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Understanding these numbers means comparing them within the local range documented by the U.S. Geological Survey for Salt Lake County’s aquifer 100VLFL. High levels relative to the local median suggest a greater likelihood of mineral-related dry skin. However, no federal health or safety thresholds were exceeded in the area samples, meaning detection is common and not a violation or health concern.
Belief: Dry Skin from Water Minerals Is the Same as Skin Issues from Other Water Problems
Dry skin caused by water minerals differs from skin irritation due to chemicals or microorganisms. The government’s groundwater sampling in this region specifically measured calcium and magnesium, minerals known to harden water and contribute to dryness but not to microbial or chemical hazards. Thus, dry skin symptoms linked to mineral content should not be confused with symptoms from microbial or chemical contamination, which have distinct causes and require different testing and responses.
Belief: Calcium and Magnesium Enter Groundwater by Unknown or Random Methods
In Salt Lake County, calcium and magnesium enter groundwater naturally through the dissolution of local rocks and soils into the aquifer 100VLFL. This natural process results in variable mineral concentrations based on geological formations and well depth. This mineral content is stable over time and well understood through comprehensive regional sampling by the U.S. Geological Survey, providing a reliable picture of what to expect in water from this area.
In summary, the evidence from regional groundwater sampling clarifies the presence and variability of calcium and magnesium minerals related to dry skin in Salt Lake County. To determine your household’s specific water condition, a certified laboratory test is essential. For households seeking to address dry skin linked to these minerals, the Fleck Dry, Itchy Skin System ships ready to configure and can help reduce calcium and magnesium effects on the skin.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2021-12-08. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Hardness, Ca, Mg in the 100VLFL aquifer (Salt Lake County): 123 results from 59 wells, median 500.0 mg/L, range 44.5-1420.0 mg/L; none above any federal threshold
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