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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 788 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2465 µg/L — KEOWEE BAY S/D (SC3750026) · 115 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 956 µg/L 9.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 64.4 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 906.65 µg/L — TURTLEHEAD AT KEOWEE S/D (SC3750022) · 32 people · 2018 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 809.65 µg/L 8.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2016 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 13.708 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2016
Highest in the city: 61.486 µg/L — CLIFFS AT KEOWEE (SC3950009) · 23 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 39.015 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 52.805 µg/L — ISAQUEENA POINT UTIL SYS (SC3750008) · 38 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 33.46 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 45.37 µg/L — ISAQUEENA POINT UTIL SYS (SC3750008) · 38 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 34.78 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CLIFFS AT KEOWEE (SC3950009) · 23 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 28.13 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 29.84 µg/L — KEOWEE KEY UTILITY SYSTEM INC (3750023) · 4,108 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 16.31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.58 µg/L — KEOWEE KEY UTILITY SYSTEM INC (3750023) · 4,108 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.5200 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 16 µg/L — ISAQUEENA POINT UTIL SYS (SC3750008) · 38 people · 2018 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 11.82 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.96 µg/L — KEOWEE KEY UTILITY SYSTEM INC (3750023) · 4,108 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 9.946 pCi/L 66% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 10.055 pCi/L — CLIFFS AT KEOWEE (SC3950009) · 23 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.6 µg/L — KEOWEE KEY UTILITY SYSTEM INC (3750023) · 4,108 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.3 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: CLIFFS AT KEOWEE (SC3950009) · 23 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.955 pCi/L 59% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: KEOWEE BAY S/D (SC3750026) · 115 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — BAY RIDGE S/D (SC3750027) · 62 people · 2018 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BAY RIDGE S/D (SC3750027) · 62 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 0.5200 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2015 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SALEM TOWN OF (SC3710001) · 6,444 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0130 mg/L — BAY RIDGE S/D (SC3750027) · 62 people · 2025 | 7/7 | 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 TOWN OF (SC3710001) | 6,444 |
| KEOWEE KEY UTILITY SYSTEM INC (3750023) | 4,108 |
| KEOWEE BAY S/D (SC3750026) | 115 |
| BAY RIDGE S/D (SC3750027) | 62 |
| ISAQUEENA POINT UTIL SYS (SC3750008) | 38 |
| TURTLEHEAD AT KEOWEE S/D (SC3750022) | 32 |
| CLIFFS AT KEOWEE (SC3950009) | 23 |
Frequently asked questions about Salem tap water
Is Salem tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 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, South Carolina 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 Fluoride, Nitrate, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, Combined Uranium. 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.