SALEM WATER WORKS

Q: Is SALEM WATER WORKS water safe to drink?

SALEM WATER WORKS (PWS ID: IN5288005) has 652 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 8,200 people using Surface Water sources.

Q: How many people does SALEM WATER WORKS serve?

SALEM WATER WORKS serves 8,200 people in SALEM, Indiana. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 3,445 service connections.

Q: What type of violations does SALEM WATER WORKS have?

SALEM WATER WORKS has 652 total violations: 346 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 261 monitoring/reporting violations, and 71 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Q: Has PFAS been detected in SALEM WATER WORKS water?

No. SALEM WATER WORKS was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

Q: What water source does SALEM WATER WORKS use?

SALEM WATER WORKS uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Q: Where does this data come from?

All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Reviewed byPlainWater Editorial, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Team · June 4, 2026

PWS ID: IN5288005 · SALEM, Indiana 47167

SALEM WATER WORKS serves 8,200 people in SALEM, Indiana using Surface Water water sources. It has 652 recorded EPA violations, including 346 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: SALEM WATER WORKS

SALEM WATER WORKS is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 8,200 residents in SALEM, Indiana (Washington County) through 3,445 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 652 total violations for this system , of which 346 (53%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 261 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 155 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Indiana, EPA tracks 3,967 public water systems serving 5,774,616 people, with 352,710 cumulative violations and 35,932 health-based violations on record. About 96% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 88.9 violations. SALEM WATER WORKS's 652 violations sit above the Indiana average. Statewide, 93 of 229 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (40.6%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served

8,200

Total Violations

652

Health-Based Violations

346

Water Source

Surface Water

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 3,445
County: Washington
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 275
Monitoring Violations: 261
Treatment Tech Violations: 71

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MCL	155	2021
TTHM	MCL	118	2021
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	TT	30	2025
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	29	2022
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	26	2023
Surface Water Treatment Rule	TT	21	1994
CARBON, TOTAL	TT	17	2008
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate	MR	12	2022
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	MR	12	2022
Carbofuran	MR	12	1994
Endothall	MR	12	1994
Mercury	MR	10	2017
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	MR	10	2022
Revised Total Coliform Rule	RPT	10	2022
Cadmium	MR	10	2017
Selenium	MR	10	2017
Arsenic	MR	10	2017
Barium	MR	10	2017
Fluoride	MR	10	2017
Chromium	MR	10	2017
Antimony, Total	MR	9	2017
Beryllium, Total	MR	9	2017
Thallium, Total	MR	9	2017
OXAMYL	MR	9	1994
Nickel	MR	9	2017
Diquat	MR	8	1994
Coliform (TCR)	MR	7	2012
Nitrate	MR	7	2008
Benzo(a)pyrene	MR	7	1999
Simazine	MR	4	2022

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 120 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
NFDHA	9/11/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	9/11/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	9/11/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	9/11/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	9/11/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	9/11/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	9/11/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	9/11/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	9/11/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	9/11/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	9/11/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	9/11/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	9/11/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	9/11/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	9/11/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	9/11/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	9/11/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	9/11/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	9/11/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	6/6/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	6/6/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	6/6/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	6/6/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	6/6/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	6/6/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	6/6/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	6/6/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	6/6/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	6/6/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	6/6/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	6/6/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	6/6/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	6/6/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	6/6/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	6/6/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	6/6/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	6/6/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	6/6/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	6/6/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records — or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status — go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for SALEM WATER WORKS.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS — Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID IN5288005 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Indiana Drinking Water Authority

Indiana Department of Environmental Management — Drinking Water Branch is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects SALEM WATER WORKS under EPA-delegated authority.

Open IN regulator portal

Source: Indiana Department of Environmental Management — Drinking Water Branch

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest)	Contaminant	Category	Count	EPA Record
2025	Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	TT	30	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 0300
2023	Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	26	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 7000
2022	Lead and Copper Rule	MR	29	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 5000
2022	Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate	MR	12	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 2035
2022	Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	MR	12	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 2039
2022	Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	MR	10	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 0300
2022	Revised Total Coliform Rule	RPT	10	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 8000
2022	Simazine	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 2037
2022	CARBON, TOTAL	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 2920
2022	Atrazine	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 2050
2022	LASSO	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 2051
2022	Public Notice	Other	3	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 7500
2021	Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MCL	155	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 2456
2021	TTHM	MCL	118	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 2950
2020	Revised Total Coliform Rule	TT	3	SDWIS / IN5288005 / 8000

How SALEM WATER WORKS Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric	SALEM WATER WORKS	Indiana avg	Federal benchmark
Total violations	652	88.9	SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations	346	9.1	Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection	None	40.6%	EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served	8,200	1,456	Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 3,967 regulated public water systems in Indiana.

Federal MCL reference — Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼

Contaminant	Federal MCL / Action Level	Note
Lead	0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L)	Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic	0.010 mg/L (10 ppb)	Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform	Treatment technique (RTCR)	Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS)	4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule)	Compliance deadline 2029
Nitrate (as N)	10 mg/L	Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SALEM WATER WORKS water safe to drink? ▼

SALEM WATER WORKS (PWS ID: IN5288005) has 652 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 8,200 people using Surface Water sources.

How many people does SALEM WATER WORKS serve? ▼

SALEM WATER WORKS serves 8,200 people in SALEM, Indiana. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 3,445 service connections.

What type of violations does SALEM WATER WORKS have? ▼

SALEM WATER WORKS has 652 total violations: 346 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 261 monitoring/reporting violations, and 71 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in SALEM WATER WORKS water? ▼

No. SALEM WATER WORKS was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

What water source does SALEM WATER WORKS use? ▼

SALEM WATER WORKS uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Where does this data come from? ▼

All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

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