Salem, OR: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 94/100
13 ZIP codes · 16 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Salem: A.
The model grade is high, but the records on this page include findings worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (10 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Within Salem, OR, the available records add up to an upper-tier grade; that grade describes records, not the water at a given faucet.
How Salem Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Salem, OR
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of Home Safety grades across Salem.
Salem Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 219 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0037 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $433 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.36.
Water Systems Serving Salem
Service in Salem, OR can differ by address: 16 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 13 ZIP codes in Salem, Oregon, covering 16 community water systems serving approximately 279,480 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 8 of 13 ZIP codes.
8 of 8 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Salem: A (94/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Salem water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0037 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 8 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
13 of 13 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 3.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 42 | 8 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 23 | 5 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 19 | 6 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 19 | 3 |
| Picloram | Organic | 15 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97304 | — | 96 | 4 | Salem Public Works |
| 97301 | B | 72 | 2 | Salem Public Works |
| 97317 | A | 39 | 3 | Salem Public Works |
| 97305 | A | 17 | 1 | Salem Public Works |
| 97302 | A | 12 | 2 | Salem Public Works |
| 97306 | A | 5 | 0 | Salem Public Works |
| 97303 | A | 3 | 0 | City of Keizer, |
| 97310 | A | 1 | 0 | Salem Public Works |
All ZIP Codes in Salem
- 97301 [B] - 72 violations ⚠
- 97302 [A] - 12 violations ⚠
- 97303 [A] - 3 violations
- 97304 - 96 violations ⚠
- 97305 [A] - 17 violations ⚠
- 97306 [A] - 5 violations
- 97308
- 97309
- 97310 [A] - 1 violation
- 97311
- 97312
- 97314
- 97317 [A] - 39 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Salem
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Salem
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Salem: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Of the three cost-context tiers - low, moderate and elevated - Salem is in the low one.
Estimated remediation costs in Salem can be compared with local home values. The $225–$933 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 2% below the Oregon average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Salem
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Salem do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Salem
Historical NFIP data for Salem contains 297 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $19,127. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $433 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Salem, OR