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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
Matched to what EPA's records actually show for SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD (grade A, 90/100) — not to what sells.
EPA SDWIS/ECHO 2026Q2 · UCMR5 (2023–2026, July 2026 release) · SYR4 six-year review 2012–2019 · Full Salem water quality report · Methodology
Carbon pitcher or faucet filter for taste (optional). SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD's EPA record is clean: no health-based violations in five years, lead at 1.7 ppb at the 90th percentile. Most Salem households need nothing more than a carbon filter for chlorine taste — and a lead-certified one if the house has old plumbing.
Not on the strength of EPA's data for SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD: no health-based violations in five years, lead at 1.7 ppb. A taste filter and a lead-certified cartridge for older homes are all most households need.
An NSF/ANSI 42 carbon pitcher or faucet filter for chlorine taste; add NSF/ANSI 53 lead reduction if your home predates 1986.
SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD's latest Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile result was 1.7 ppb (2023-01-01 to 2025-12-31), below the 15 ppb action level. Lead enters from service lines and home plumbing, so test at the tap if your home is older.
SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD has no UCMR5 PFAS results in EPA's dataset (small systems were sampled only if selected), so this is a data gap rather than a clean result.
Look for: NSF/ANSI 42 (taste, chlorine) — NSF/ANSI 53 if your home predates 1986
SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD's EPA record is clean: no health-based violations in five years, lead at 1.7 ppb at the 90th percentile. Most Salem households need nothing more than a carbon filter for chlorine taste — and a lead-certified one if the house has old plumbing.
| Evidence | Result | EPA limit | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile of tap samples) | 1.7 ppb (lead 90th percentile) | 15 ppb | 2023-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | EPA SDWIS/ECHO 2026Q2 |
Look for: Certified lab (Tap Score)
Utility data describes water leaving SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD. Lead, copper and some PFAS enter between the main and your faucet, so a mail-in lab test is the only way to know what your household actually drinks — and the cheapest way to avoid buying a filter you do not need.
Rows are the contaminants EPA data actually flags for Salem. ✓ removes (when certified) · ◐ only specific certified models or media · ✗ does not remove.
| Removes | Pitcher | Under-sink carbon | Reverse osmosis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead from household plumbing (precaution) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chlorine taste and odor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Typical cost | typically $25–$50 + filters | typically $40–$150 | typically $150–$400 |
| Install | none (renters) | under the sink, ~15 min | under sink + faucet; drain line |
| Certification to look for | NSF/ANSI 42 / 53 | NSF/ANSI 42 / 53 | NSF/ANSI 58 |
| Verified picks | ZeroWater 10-cup · Brita Elite · Waterdrop pitchers | Waterdrop TSA · Waterdrop 10UA | APEC ROES-50 · Waterdrop tankless RO |
Cost ranges are typical retail prices, not quotes. Removal marks describe the filter class when certified for that contaminant — always check the NSF/ANSI listing of the exact cartridge. Full pitcher vs under-sink vs faucet comparison →
A certified mail-in lab test shows exactly what's in your water — contaminants plus dozens of other contaminants — with EPA-grade accuracy. Know your real levels before spending on a filter.
Certified lab · results in days
Even with good water quality, a filter removes trace contaminants and improves taste.
For Everyday Peace of Mind
Brita Elite Pitcher
Your water already tests well — a simple carbon filter improves taste and catches trace contaminants.
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