Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SALEM, Oregon
Tap water in SALEM, Oregon receives a grade of C (79/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by SALEM PUBLIC WORKS. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in SALEM's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SALEM.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 32.7 ppb, 546x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 20.9 ppb, 209x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.4 ppb, 156x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Recommended filters for SALEM
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SALEM's water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in SALEM's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
32.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 546× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
20.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 209× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
23.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 156× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0653 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
0.0579 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
95.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0614 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.0507 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.32 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
0.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0228 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.15 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.504 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from SALEM PUBLIC WORKS.