What was found in Salem's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 280 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7140.42 µg/L — MILLVILLE CIRCLE/SOUTH · 48 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 189.24 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 419.7 µg/L — AUTUMN WOODS · 193 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 318 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: LANCASTER FARMS · 303 people · 2017 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 35.3 µg/L 235% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 119.71 µg/L — MILLVILLE CIRCLE/SOUTH · 48 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 27.5014 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 45.6 µg/L — ACKERMAN RETIREMENT PARK · 350 people · 2018 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 44.25 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 32.0333 µg/L 320% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: ACKERMAN RETIREMENT PARK · 350 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 31 µg/L 103% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 30 µg/L Highest in the city: SHADOW LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK · 58 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 30.55 pCi/L 204% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: SHADOW LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK · 58 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 29 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 27.85 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.465 pCi/L 49% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 12.82 pCi/L — SHADOW LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK · 58 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 10 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SHADOW LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK · 58 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.22 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.73 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.585 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: LANCASTER FARMS · 303 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.1110 mg/L — MILLVILLE CIRCLE/SOUTH · 48 people · 2018 | 4/7 | LCR |
| PFOA | 0.0085 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0038 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM WATER DEPT · 21,000 people · 2025 | 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 95th percentile of the
system's samples — 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, Copper, Fluoride, Lead, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.