Loading water data...
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.
EPA records for SALEM PUBLIC WORKS • Updated September 2026
Grade A — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS has a clean recent record: no health-based violations in the last five years and no lead, PFAS or historical monitoring result that costs it more than a few points.
Yes — by EPA's records Salem, OR tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on no health-based EPA violations in the last five years and lead at 2 ppb (90th percentile, 2025) against the 15 ppb action level. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes — by EPA's records Salem, OR tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on no health-based EPA violations in the last five years and lead at 2 ppb (90th percentile, 2025) against the 15 ppb action level. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for SALEM PUBLIC WORKS (2023-01-30 to 2024-05-20) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS has 1 violation on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 199,820 people (EPA PWSID OR4100731).
Not on the strength of EPA's data for SALEM PUBLIC WORKS. A filter still helps with taste and with lead from your own plumbing, which no city-level test can measure.
Compare filter options for your Salem tap water
EPA data describes water leaving the plant — a certified mail-in lab test shows what reaches your own faucet, including lead from household plumbing.
Unsure which contaminants to treat? Compare home kits and certified lab testing before buying.
Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to ReportConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2023-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2023-07-05 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by SALEM PUBLIC WORKS
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31), 90% of the homes SALEM PUBLIC WORKS sampled had lead at or below 2 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2024-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 2.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2023-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 5.6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-07-01 → 2022-12-31 | 7.5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-01-01 → 2022-06-30 | 7.1 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2017-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2014-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 4.9 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 4.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 2.1 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 6.1 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2005-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 13.9 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2007-07-01 → 2007-12-31 | 4.3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-01-30 to 2024-05-20 · 174 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for SALEM PUBLIC WORKS were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 6 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 6 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 6 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples SALEM PUBLIC WORKS reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) is flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 150 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 10 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N) | 174 detects | 0.02 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 1714 detects | 0.516 mg/L | 0.8 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 150 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Uranium (combined) | 130 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 30 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Radium-226/228 | 131 detects | 0.078 pCi/L | 1.01 pCi/L | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Gross alpha | 120 detects | 0 pCi/L | ND | 15 pCi/LMCL | Not detected |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 259 | 35.809 µg/L | 79 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 258253 detects | 34.186 µg/L | 65 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 4 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Lead (tap samples) | 261149 detects | 1.97 µg/L | 29 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 261253 detects | 207.09 µg/L | 676 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 57,696 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 100% of its 57,696 lines as non-lead. Lead can still come from pre-1986 plumbing and fixtures inside a home.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID OR4100731 · See all Oregon lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Salem homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Salem faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Salem households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Salem residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 97301, 97302, 97304, 97305 +3 more). All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Salem yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Salem ranks #1 of 3 graded Oregon cities.
Yes — by EPA's records Salem, OR tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on no health-based EPA violations in the last five years and lead at 2 ppb (90th percentile, 2025) against the 15 ppb action level. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for SALEM PUBLIC WORKS (2023-01-30 to 2024-05-20) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS has 1 violation on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
SALEM PUBLIC WORKS reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 199,820 people (EPA PWSID OR4100731).
Not on the strength of EPA's data for SALEM PUBLIC WORKS. A filter still helps with taste and with lead from your own plumbing, which no city-level test can measure.
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.
Check Price on AmazonNot sure what filter you need?
Test your tap water first, so you filter for what's actually in it.
Shop Home Water Test Kits →We may earn a commission from Amazon and Waterdrop when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Find the right filter for your Salem water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Salem, OR.
Predicted indoor radon by ZIP vs. the EPA 4 pCi/L action level.
Arsenic and nitrate risk for homes on a well instead of city water.
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.