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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 7690 µg/L 592% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 17/24 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 6480 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 19/24 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 5130 µg/L 51% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 12/24 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 800 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 10/24 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 79 µg/L 99% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 4/24 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 65 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 2/24 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 29 µg/L 193% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 23/24 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 21.9 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 8.8 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 12/24 | SYR4 |
| Benzene | 5.63 µg/L 113% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 5.09 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 4.51 µg/L 451% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.3 pCi/L 29% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 11/24 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.9 pCi/L 78% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 14/24 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 2.7 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.52 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.11 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.74 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.25 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.9800 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.6400 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.3000 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.1200 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.0610 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0372 mg/L 248% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 24/24 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Salem
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SALEM PUBLIC WORKS | 199,820 |
| SUBURBAN EAST SALEM WD | 13,900 |
| LABISH VILLAGE WTR COMMISSION | 452 |
| BIE CHEMAWA INDIAN SCHOOL | 320 |
| CAROLINA WATER SYSTEM | 300 |
| SURFWOOD VILLA HOA | 200 |
| LGC MEADOWLARK MANOR LLC | 195 |
| GREEN OAKS PARK LLC | 165 |
| DUPLEX VILLAGE WATER SYSTEM | 165 |
| ROYAL ESTATES | 160 |
| SALEM MOBILE ESTATES/SHADY ACRES | 150 |
| SUNSET VILLAGE MHP | 120 |
| TRAILER PARK VILLAGE | 105 |
| MCLAIN VILLAGE WATER DEPT | 100 |
| SUNNYVIEW MOBILE HOME PARK | 100 |
| ALPINE CREST IMPROVEMENT DIST | 91 |
| BREWSTER COMMUNITY HOMEOWNERS | 70 |
| LAKESHORE TERRACE | 60 |
| 62ND COURT MUTUAL WATER CO | 50 |
| RALPH TAYLOR TRAILER COURT | 45 |
| DUPLEX VILLAGE EAST | 41 |
| SANTIAM MEADOWS COMMUNITY WS | 40 |
| FOX HOLLOW ESTATES WATER CORP | 26 |
| OAKDALE TRAILER PARK | 26 |
Frequently asked questions about Salem tap water
Is Salem tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 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?
24 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Salem, Oregon 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 Copper, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, TTHM. 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.