Community Water System · PWSID IN5288005

Salem Water Works

Serves 8,200 peopleSurface WaterOwner: Local GovernmentSalem, Indiana
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On record since 2008: 73 violations. 27 over the limit · 6 treatment lapses · 28 missed or late tests · 12 notices or reports. Most recent began 2025-07-01.

For this year's test results, ask the utility for its annual Consumer Confidence Report. Every community system must publish one.

27Over the limit
6Treatment lapse
28Missed or late test
12Notice or report

More violations on record than 99% of active water systems in Indiana. Small systems with no staff chemist often rack up missed-test violations; big utilities rarely do.

The record, year by year

20052008 · Missed or late test: 12008 · Notice or report: 12009 · Notice or report: 12010 · Notice or report: 220102011 · Missed or late test: 12014 · Over the limit: 22015 · Over the limit: 62015 · Over the limit: 62015 · Over the limit: 62015 · Notice or report: 120152016 · Over the limit: 52016 · Over the limit: 52016 · Over the limit: 52016 · Missed or late test: 12017 · Missed or late test: 132017 · Missed or late test: 132017 · Missed or late test: 132017 · Missed or late test: 132017 · Missed or late test: 132017 · Missed or late test: 132017 · Missed or late test: 132017 · Notice or report: 12018 · Missed or late test: 12018 · Notice or report: 12019 · Over the limit: 12019 · Missed or late test: 12020 · Over the limit: 62020 · Over the limit: 62020 · Over the limit: 62020 · Treatment lapse: 12020 · Missed or late test: 12020 · Notice or report: 120202021 · Over the limit: 72021 · Over the limit: 72021 · Over the limit: 72021 · Over the limit: 72021 · Missed or late test: 12022 · Treatment lapse: 42022 · Treatment lapse: 42022 · Missed or late test: 82022 · Missed or late test: 82022 · Missed or late test: 82022 · Missed or late test: 82022 · Notice or report: 32022 · Notice or report: 32023 · Notice or report: 12025 · Treatment lapse: 12025
One square ≈ 2 violations (rounded up), by the year they began. Empty columns are years with nothing on EPA's record.
37% over the limit · 278% treatment lapse · 638% missed or late test · 2816% notice or report · 12

Across Indiana, 78% of violations are missed or late tests and 3% are water over a limit.

How far over the limit

at the limit2×5×10×100×+Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Trihalomethanes (TTHM)2021-10-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 66.80 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.1×)2021-07-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 87.60 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.5×)2021-07-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 93.00 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.2×)2021-04-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 106.30 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.3×)2021-04-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 98.60 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.6×)2021-01-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 97.60 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.6×)2021-01-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 99.20 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.2×)2020-10-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 87.10 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.5×)2020-10-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 85.60 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.1×)2020-07-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 70.40 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.2×)2020-04-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 62.90 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.0×)2020-01-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 66.00 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.1×)2020-01-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 81.50 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.0×)2019-10-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 60.20 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.0×)2016-07-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 88.80 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.1×)2016-04-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 79.90 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.3×)2016-04-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 82.20 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.0×)2016-01-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 109.70 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.4×)2016-01-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 92.40 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.2×)2015-10-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 95.90 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.2×)2015-07-01 · Trihalomethanes (TTHM): measured 84.70 UG/L vs limit 80.00 UG/L (1.1×)2015-07-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 114.30 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.9×)2014-10-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 75.90 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.3×)2014-07-01 · Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): measured 76.10 UG/L vs limit 60.00 UG/L (1.3×)
Each dot is one over-the-limit violation: the measured value divided by the limit it broke, on a log scale. Most legal limits for chemicals are running averages set for a lifetime of drinking, so “just over” and “ten times over” are very different news. Hover a dot for the numbers.

Lead & copper at the tap

Utilities sample taps in homes most likely to have lead pipes, and report the 90th-percentile result: 9 in 10 homes sampled came in at or below this number. Above the red line (the action level) the utility must act. The action level is not a safe level; EPA's health goal for lead is zero. EPA's file does not date these results, so they are shown highest first.

Lead, 90th percentile 4 results on file · action level 15 ppb

2.5 ppb
2.3 ppb
0 ppb
0 ppb

Every violation on record

  1. 2025-07-01Surface water filtration (IESWTR)Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)Back in compliance
  2. 2023-07-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Complete Failure to ReportBack in compliance
  3. 2022-08-01Unknown contaminantTreatment TechniquesPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  4. 2022-07-01Carbon, TotalMonitoring and Reporting (DBP)Back in compliance
  5. 2022-02-01Surface water filtration (IESWTR)Monitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR)Back in compliance
  6. 2022-02-01Surface water filtration (IESWTR)Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)Back in compliance
  7. 2022-02-01Surface water filtration (IESWTR)Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)measured 8.27 NTUBack in compliance
  8. 2022-01-11Revised Total Coliform RuleRPTBack in compliance
  9. 2022-01-01Lead and Copper RuleLead Consumer NoticeBack in compliance
  10. 2022-01-01LassoMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  11. 2022-01-01AtrazineMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  12. 2022-01-01Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalateMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  13. 2022-01-01SimazineMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  14. 2022-01-01Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipateMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  15. 2022-01-01Public NoticePN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  16. 2022-01-01Surface water filtration (IESWTR)Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)Back in compliance
  17. 2022-01-01Surface water filtration (IESWTR)Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)measured 1.30 NTUBack in compliance
  18. 2021-10-01Lead and Copper RuleFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RBack in compliance
  19. 2021-10-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 66.80 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  20. 2021-07-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 87.60 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  21. 2021-07-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 93.00 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  22. 2021-04-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 106.30 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  23. 2021-04-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 98.60 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  24. 2021-01-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 97.60 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  25. 2021-01-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 99.20 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
Show the other 48 entries
  1. 2020-10-30Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Inadequate ReportingBack in compliance
  2. 2020-10-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 87.10 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  3. 2020-10-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 85.60 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  4. 2020-10-01Lead and Copper RuleFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RBack in compliance
  5. 2020-07-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 70.40 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  6. 2020-05-04Revised Total Coliform RuleTTBack in compliance
  7. 2020-04-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 62.90 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  8. 2020-01-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 66.00 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  9. 2020-01-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 81.50 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  10. 2019-10-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 60.20 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LPeriod ended · no return to compliance on file
  11. 2019-01-01Revised Total Coliform RuleMONBack in compliance
  12. 2018-10-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Inadequate ReportingBack in compliance
  13. 2018-01-01Lead and Copper RuleLead Consumer NoticeBack in compliance
  14. 2017-07-01Revised Total Coliform RuleRPTBack in compliance
  15. 2017-01-01SeleniumMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  16. 2017-01-01Thallium, TotalMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  17. 2017-01-01Beryllium, TotalMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  18. 2017-01-01Antimony, TotalMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  19. 2017-01-01SodiumMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  20. 2017-01-01NickelMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  21. 2017-01-01MercuryMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  22. 2017-01-01FluorideMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  23. 2017-01-01CyanideMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  24. 2017-01-01ChromiumMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  25. 2017-01-01CadmiumMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  26. 2017-01-01BariumMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  27. 2017-01-01ArsenicMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  28. 2016-07-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 88.80 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  29. 2016-04-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 79.90 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  30. 2016-04-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 82.20 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  31. 2016-02-01Surface water filtration (IESWTR)Monitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR)Back in compliance
  32. 2016-01-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 109.70 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  33. 2016-01-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 92.40 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  34. 2015-10-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 139.70 UG/LBack in compliance
  35. 2015-10-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 95.90 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  36. 2015-10-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Inadequate ReportingBack in compliance
  37. 2015-07-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)MCL, Averagemeasured 84.70 UG/L · limit 80.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  38. 2015-07-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 114.30 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  39. 2015-04-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 104.90 UG/LBack in compliance
  40. 2015-01-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 85.30 UG/LBack in compliance
  41. 2014-10-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 75.90 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  42. 2014-07-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)MCL, Averagemeasured 76.10 UG/L · limit 60.00 UG/LBack in compliance
  43. 2011-10-01Lead and Copper RuleFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RBack in compliance
  44. 2010-10-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Inadequate ReportingBack in compliance
  45. 2010-07-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Complete Failure to ReportBack in compliance
  46. 2009-10-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Inadequate ReportingBack in compliance
  47. 2008-10-10Lead and Copper RuleFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RBack in compliance
  48. 2008-10-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Inadequate ReportingBack in compliance

System details

Population served8,200
Service connections3,445
Water sourceSurface Water
System typeCommunity Water System
OwnerLocal Government
StatusActive
CitySalem
EPA ZIP on file47167

Areas served

  • Salem, Washington County

Reading this record

Salem Water Works is a community water system that draws from surface water and serves about 8,200 people in Salem, Indiana. Everything above comes from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), where states report every violation by every public water system.

Four kinds of violation. Only one is a measurement of the water: over the limit means a test came back above a legal maximum (an MCL). A treatment lapse means a required protective step was not done, such as disinfection, filtration, fixing a defect an inspector found, or filing a lead-pipe inventory. A missed or late test means a required test was skipped or never reported. That is the most common kind, and the most misread: it does not mean the water was bad, and it does not mean the water was fine. Notices and reports covers public notices and the annual Consumer Confidence Report.

Status. “Back in compliance” means the state recorded a return to compliance. “Period ended” means the violation's compliance period is over but no return to compliance was ever filed, which is common in older records. EPA's federal copy lags state records by months, so call the utility for anything current.