Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Salem. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved October 2026, Salem is served by 2 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 16,813 people.
As of October 2026, EPA records show 88 violations across the community water system(s) serving Salem, going back to the earliest EPA record. 49 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.
Health-based Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 11 times between July 2014 and July 2021. The EPA record lists a level of 77.1 UG/L; the limit (MCL) is 60 UG/L. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Health-based TTHM: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 5 times between July 2015 and July 2016. The EPA record lists a level of 95.2 UG/L; the limit (MCL) is 80 UG/L. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Salem Water Works
8,200 served · surface water · PWSID IN5288005
Health-based Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 5 times between January 2022 and July 2025. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Health-based Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 17 times between July 2014 and October 2021. The EPA record lists a level of 76.1 UG/L; the limit (MCL) is 60 UG/L. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Health-based TTHM: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 10 times between July 2015 and July 2021. The EPA record lists a level of 84.7 UG/L; the limit (MCL) is 80 UG/L. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Health-based Revised Total Coliform Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in May 2020. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 8 times between October 2008 and July 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring CARBON, TOTAL: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between February 2016 and February 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Revised Total Coliform Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2017 and January 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 6 times between October 2008 and January 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Public Notice: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Simazine: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Atrazine: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring LASSO: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Arsenic: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Barium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Cadmium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Chromium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring CYANIDE: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Fluoride: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Mercury: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Nickel: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Sodium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Antimony, Total: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Beryllium, Total: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Thallium, Total: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Selenium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved October 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.