Pleasant Grove drinking water receives perfect score in sanitary survey

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah (ABC4) — Drinking water in Pleasant Grove recently received a perfect score from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in a sanitary survey.

According to a press release from Pleasant Grove, Emergency Response Program Manager Tom McOmie told the city that he didn’t issue a single deficiency, “an outcome that is exceptionally rare,” he said. He added that it was almost unheard of.

Sanitary surveys inspect public drinking water systems to assess construction, operations, and record keeping in order to identify conditions that may pose a risk to public health. By Utah law, sanitary surveys must be conducted every three years, and they are conducted by the Division of Drinking Water at the DEQ.

Neal Winterton, public works director for Pleasant Grove, described sanitary surveys as the “white glove” test of the cleanliness of public water facilities.

A sanitary survey looks at eight different elements: the source of the water, how the water is treated, distribution of the water, water storage, water pumps, monitoring and reporting of water quality, maintenance and operation of facilities and systems, and whether operators are certified.

After the inspection, McOmie stated, “The system is not only extremely well maintained—clean, organized, and thoughtfully managed—but it is also evident that your team takes great pride in their work.”

In light of this achievement, the Pleasant Grove city council honored three people for their work at a meeting on July 15: Drew Hoffman, Derrick Rowberry and Trevor Workman.