A dry winter in Southern Utah has raised concerns about water availability in one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions.

Bottled water is safe indefinitely if stored properly. Plastic bottles may release chemicals like BPA when exposed to heat. Tap water can be safely stored for up to six months.

Pennsylvania had the most water violations in 2023, 24,525 in total — 14,808 of which were related to monitoring and reporting.

Melted plastic pipes and drastic water-pressure drops are potentially leaching toxic chemicals and contaminants into local ...