Salem Public Works
EPA ID: OR4100731 · 199,820 people served · 16 ZIP codes
Pulled from the federal compliance ledger, 1 violation at Salem Public Works remain without resolution — the utility delivers drinking water to roughly 199,820 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 14 (2024) to 3 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Salem Public Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade A
Service Area Demographics
The Salem Public Works serves a community with a median household income of $83,697 and an estimated 290,377 residents across its service area. Approximately 55% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Salem Public Works'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.
About 2% of homes in Marion County, Oregon rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Salem Public Works compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Oregon
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
Salem Public Works (EPA ID: OR4100731) is a community water system in Oregon that serves approximately 199,820 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 16 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: A (87/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97301 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97302 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97303 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97304 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97305 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97306 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97308 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97309 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97310 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97311 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97312 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97314 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 97317 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 10 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 6 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 97026 — Gervais
- 97301 — Salem
- 97302 — Salem
- 97303 — Salem
- 97304 — Salem
- 97305 — Salem
- 97306 — Salem
- 97308 — Salem
- 97309 — Salem
- 97310 — Salem
- 97311 — Salem
- 97312 — Salem
- 97313 — State Farm Ins
- 97314 — Salem
- 97317 — Salem
- 97392 — Turner
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Salem Public Works (OR4100731) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem Public Works water safe to drink?
Salem Public Works has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Salem Public Works serve?
Salem Public Works serves approximately 199,820 people across 16 ZIP codes in Oregon.
Where does Salem Public Works get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from City of Salem Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: City of Salem Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
The City of Salem's Source Water Assessment was originally completed in 2003 with assistance from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). In 2018, ODEQ completed an Updated Source Water Assessment to all drinking water providers in the state of Oregon. As required by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the original assessment identifies sensitive areas where the water supply may be more vulnerable to impact by potential contaminant sources.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Salem Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
The City has a complete inventory of the city-owned (public) service lines. There are no known publicly owned lead service lines in Salem. The City is working with consultants to determine an OHA and EPA approved site selection and identification method for privately owned lines.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
City of Salem
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.
Aesthetic water quality
These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.
Aesthetic measurements from City of Salem Consumer Confidence Report.
Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.
Hard water detected in City of Salem
Your utility reported water hardness of 1416 ppm CaCO₃ (82.7 grains per gallon) in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report. This is in the very hard range and may cause scale buildup, reduced appliance lifespan, and dry skin or hair.
There are three common approaches to treating hard water: salt-based ion-exchange softeners (most effective, require salt refills), salt-free conditioners (lower maintenance, scale prevention only), and reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink (cooking and drinking water only). Aquasana, EcoWater, Pelican, and SpringWell are among the major US brands.
Paid Partner. ZipCheckup earns commission on Aquasana purchases. We do not test water or verify product effectiveness for specific hardness levels — manufacturer claims are theirs alone. Consult a certified water-quality professional for personalized advice.
Hardness data parsed from this utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report. Severity bands per USGS hard water classification.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
reporting2023-07-07
The City of Salem was in violation of a delivery deadline for the 2023 Annual Water Quality Report. The deadline to deliver the Annual Water Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report is annually on July 1. The report must be available to the public and a copy sent to the Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services by this date. While the report was available to the public by July 1, Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services did not receive a copy of the report until July 7, 2023.
Violations record from City of Salem Consumer Confidence Report.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- In 2023, Geren Island Water Treatment Plant Operators produced 10.66 billion gallons of water, a 5.2% increase from 2022.
- During the past year, the city implemented improvements at the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility, including converting a slow sand filter from a pre-filter into a finished water filter.
- The Southeast Collector Well project was completed.
- Two pumps at the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Well system in Woodmansee Park, South Salem, were rehabilitated.
- Water Distribution maintenance crews responded to 3,096 service requests, installed 345 new water services, and repaired 108 leaks in water mains and services.
- Water Quality Staff collected over 1,440 bacteriological samples from locations around Salem.
- In the summer of 2022, an ozone treatment facility was added to the treatment process.
- The City began completing Salem's Service Line Inventory in 2023.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Salem Public Works (EPA ID: OR4100731) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.