Water System Report KY

Salem Municipal Water System

EPA ID: KY0700380 · 1,241 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Zero EPA violations over five years — Salem Municipal Water System has kept tap water compliance clean for its full service population of 1,241.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

1,241
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$84K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 3 (2021) to 6 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Salem Municipal Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$48,155
Median Household Income
4,586
Service Area Population
100%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
65%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Salem Municipal Water System serves a community with a median household income of $48,155 and an estimated 4,586 residents across its service area. Approximately 65% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 100% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Salem Municipal Water System's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
70th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Livingston County, Kentucky rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

50 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
18 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 74% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 7 detections recorded. 4 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 4 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.004 ppt, PFOS: 0.004 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Kentucky

Dixon Water Department
1,253 people
0 violations
A 0 violations
C 1 violation
0 violations
Clay Water Works
1,287 people
C 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $800
PFAS Treatment $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,100

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,100 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Salem Municipal Water System (EPA ID: KY0700380) is a community water system in Kentucky that serves approximately 1,241 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by KY or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Salem Municipal Water System (KY0700380) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salem Municipal Water System water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Salem Municipal Water System has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Salem Municipal Water System serve?

Salem Municipal Water System serves approximately 1,241 people across 3 ZIP codes in Kentucky.

Where does Salem Municipal Water System get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
528
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,241
Reported to Kentucky

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Salem Municipal Water System meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Salem Municipal Water System serve?
Salem Municipal Water System serves approximately 1,241 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Salem Municipal Water System's water source?
Salem Municipal Water System draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Salem Municipal Water System's service area?
The Salem Municipal Water System service area has a median household income of $48,155. EPA EJScreen data classifies 100% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Salem Municipal Water System get its water?
Salem Municipal Water System's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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