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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 478.2 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7260 µg/L — BREWSTER COMMUNITY HOMEOWNERS · 70 people · 2019 | 17/24 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 100 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6330 µg/L — LABISH VILLAGE WTR COMMISSION · 452 people · 2019 | 19/24 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 100 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5130 µg/L — LABISH VILLAGE WTR COMMISSION · 452 people · 2017 | 12/24 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 748 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019 | 10/24 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 54 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019 | 2/24 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 53.1 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019 | 4/24 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 9.16 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.4 µg/L — SUNSET VILLAGE MHP · 120 people · 2019 | 23/24 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 21.9 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: BREWSTER COMMUNITY HOMEOWNERS · 70 people · 2016 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 8.755 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: ROYAL ESTATES · 160 people · 2019 | 12/24 | SYR4 |
| Benzene | 5.6 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Highest in the city: MCLAIN VILLAGE WATER DEPT · 100 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 5.09 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: ROYAL ESTATES · 160 people · 2017 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 4.306 µg/L 431% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 1 µg/L Highest in the city: SUNNYVIEW MOBILE HOME PARK · 100 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.3 pCi/L 29% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: GREEN OAKS PARK LLC · 165 people · 2016 | 11/24 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.01 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.835 pCi/L — LABISH VILLAGE WTR COMMISSION · 452 people · 2019 | 14/24 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 2.6 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.4945 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: MCLAIN VILLAGE WATER DEPT · 100 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.075 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BIE CHEMAWA INDIAN SCHOOL · 320 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.674 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BIE CHEMAWA INDIAN SCHOOL · 320 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BIE CHEMAWA INDIAN SCHOOL · 320 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: RALPH TAYLOR TRAILER COURT · 45 people · 2018 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.9275 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BIE CHEMAWA INDIAN SCHOOL · 320 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.6395 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: MCLAIN VILLAGE WATER DEPT · 100 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.3000 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: GREEN OAKS PARK LLC · 165 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.1195 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.0610 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2019 | 1/24 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SALEM PUBLIC WORKS · 199,820 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0372 mg/L — BREWSTER COMMUNITY HOMEOWNERS · 70 people · 2025 | 24/24 | LCR |
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 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, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). 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.