Is Salem, VA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Salem.
City of Salem supplies Salem (24,346 people).
Water system
City of Salem
24,346 people · Surface water · EPA ID VA2775300
Buys treated water from Western Virginia Water Authority.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 3.1 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Virginia, 12 of 164 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 3 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Virginia results.
Salem homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Salem city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke 5 mi Western Virginia Water Authority | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Blacksburg 21 mi Town of Blacksburg | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Lynchburg 48 mi City of Lynchburg | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Danville 60 mi City of Danville | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Staunton 81 mi City of Staunton | None above limits | 3.56 ppb |
| Charlottesville 101 mi City of Charlottesville | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Salem ZIP codes (1)
- 24153
Questions
Is Salem tap water safe to drink?
City of Salem has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Salem, VA?
City of Salem, which serves 24,346 people.
Does Salem tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Salem had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Salem homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 70% of Salem homes as built before 1980 (Virginia: 44%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. City of Salem's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.