Water Quality in Salem, OR: 219 Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems
16 water systems · 8 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 219 violations across 8 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Salem. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Salem
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97304 | 96 | 4 | View report → |
| 97301 | 72 | 2 | View report → |
| 97317 | 39 | 3 | View report → |
| 97305 | 17 | 1 | View report → |
| 97302 | 12 | 2 | View report → |
| 97306 | 5 | 0 | View report → |
| 97303 | 3 | 0 | View report → |
| 97310 | 1 | 0 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Salem, Oregon has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 8 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 219 violations, including 10 health-based violations across 8 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Salem is 0.0021 mg/L; the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to a water system's own 90th-percentile result and is not a safety threshold (EPA's health goal for lead is zero). No exceedances appear among the 8 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 58% of homes built before 1986, Salem has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Salem
Salem is served by 16 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 279,480 people live in the area (13 ZIP codes, Census); this is not the systems' reported service population.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
EPA records list enforcement actions against water systems serving Salem. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Salem
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Salem Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Salem's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | N/A | 34 | 8 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 21 | 5 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 13 | 3 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.06 mg/L | 7 | 3 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.08 mg/L | 7 | 3 | No |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 6 | 2 | Yes |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 10 mg/L | 3 | 3 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | N/A | 3 | 3 | Yes |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | N/A | 3 | 3 | No |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | Organic | 0.006 mg/L | 2 | 2 | No |
| Atrazine | Organic | 0.003 mg/L | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | N/A | 2 | 2 | No |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Organic | N/A | 2 | 2 | No |
| Xylenes, Total | Organic | N/A | 2 | 2 | No |
| Dichloromethane | Organic | N/A | 2 | 2 | No |
The standard column shows the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) except for lead and copper, whose value is an action level that triggers corrective steps and is not an MCL. Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL and treatment-technique violations.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year health-based EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Salem (this history covers health-based records only):
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
Health-based violations have increased from 1 in 2022 to 5 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems serving Salem. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-11 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-03-05 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-02-26 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-02-12 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-02-11 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-02-11 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-02-10 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-01-30 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-01-10 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-11-10 | State Order Extension |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-03-11.
Salem vs. Nearby Oregon Cities
How Salem's water quality compares to similar cities in Oregon:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | 8 | 219 | 16 | 279,480 |
| Eugene | 6 | 43 | 8 | 212,416 |
| Beaverton | 5 | 17 | 7 | 178,423 |
| Bend | 4 | 49 | 14 | 136,639 |
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Salem
EPA coverage and recorded violations can differ across Salem's ZIP codes. Missing counts are shown as unavailable, not zero:
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 97304 | 96 | 4 |
| 97301 | 72 | 2 |
| 97317 | 39 | 3 |
| 97305 | 17 | 1 |
| 97302 | 12 | 2 |
| 97306 | 5 | 0 |
| 97303 | 3 | 0 |
| 97310 | 1 | 0 |
Common Questions About Salem Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Salem, Oregon:
Is Salem water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Salem's 16 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Salem tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 10 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Salem? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Salem vs. Oregon Average
Understanding how Salem compares to the broader Oregon average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Salem.
ZIP Codes in Salem
Salem spans 13 ZIP codes. EPA water-system coverage is available for 8 directly mapped ZIP codes. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
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
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.