Is Salem, NH Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in Salem's water

The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.

Contaminant	Level vs EPA limit	Suppliers	Source
Nitrate	7630 µg/L 76% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	2/7	SYR4
Combined Uranium	2000 µg/L 6667% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 30 µg/L	5/7	SYR4
Copper	589 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L	7/7	SYR4
Fluoride	320 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L	2/7	SYR4
Lead	221.5 µg/L 1477% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L	6/7	SYR4
TTHM	50 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L	3/7	SYR4
Barium	45.6 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L	7/7	SYR4
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U	39 pCi/L 260% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 pCi/L	5/7	SYR4
Arsenic	37.1 µg/L 371% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L	5/7	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	36 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L	3/7	SYR4
Chloroform	31 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/7	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	19 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/7	SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)	18.4 pCi/L 368% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 pCi/L	6/7	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	17 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/7	SYR4
Bromodichloromethane	15 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/7	SYR4
Chromium	10 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L	3/7	SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid	4.4 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/7	SYR4
Dibromochloromethane	4.2 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/7	SYR4
Monochloroacetic Acid	2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/7	SYR4
Bromoform	1.5 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/7	SYR4
Selenium	1 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L	1/7	SYR4
Lead	0.1110 mg/L 740% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L	4/7	LCR
PFOA	0.0085 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/7	UCMR-5
Pfhxa	0.0038 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/7	UCMR-5
Pfpea	0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/7	UCMR-5

Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Salem

Supplier	Population served
SALEM WATER DEPT	21,000
ACKERMAN RETIREMENT PARK	350
LANCASTER FARMS	303
AUTUMN WOODS	193
SHADOW LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK	58
MILLVILLE CIRCLE/NORTH	57
MILLVILLE CIRCLE/SOUTH	48

Frequently asked questions about Salem tap water

Is Salem tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Salem. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.

How many water suppliers serve Salem?

7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Salem, New Hampshire to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Salem's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Salem include Nitrate, Combined Uranium, Copper, Fluoride, Lead. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.