We read 15 results from Salem Water Dept’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 21,000 people · Water system ID NH2051010 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA (a PFAS)single sample · Canobie Lake plant · 2025 report, page 17 | 7.42 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 12 ppt (New Hampshire) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.9x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 12 ppt New Hampshire limitNot a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)single sample · Canobie Lake plant · 2025 report, page 17 | 2.63 ppt | 1 ppt | 15 ppt (New Hampshire) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal2.6x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)as reported · Canobie Lake plant · 2025 report, page 11 | 1 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumas reported · Canobie Lake plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 11 | 0.03 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorideas reported · Canobie Lake plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 97 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorineas reported · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 14 | 1.23 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · Site 325 · 2025 report, page 14 | 70 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Manganeseas reported · Arlington plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.01 ppm | — | 0.05 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)single sample · Canobie Lake plant · 2025 report, page 17 | 1.28 ppt | None set | 18 ppt (New Hampshire) now; 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| PFNA (a PFAS)single sample · Canobie Lake plant · 2025 report, page 18 | 0.83 ppt | None set | 11 ppt (New Hampshire) now; 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Sulfateas reported · Arlington plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 17 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · Treated water · 2025 report, page 15 | 0.07 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Hardnessas reported · Treated water · 2025 report, page 11 | 3.37 gpg (57.6 ppm) | — | — | Soft |
| Sodiumas reported · Canobie Lake plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 11 | 61.9 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Total organic carbonaverage · range 1.5 to 3.1 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 16 | 2.38 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 2 numbers we weren’t sure about are held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Salem Water Dept’s water between Dec 2024 and Sep 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA8.5 pptFound in 8 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Radium and uranium
Found: Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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