SC / Salem
SC · Tap water records
Salem tap water, in plain English
Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Salem. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved June 2026, Salem is served by 5 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 10,862 people.
As of June 2026, EPA records show 31 violations across the community water system(s) serving Salem, going back to the earliest EPA record. 4 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.
What the EPA has on record, by system
Salem Town Of (Sc3710001)
6,444 served · surface water · PWSID SC3710001 - Health-based Lead and Copper Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in January 2000. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring E. COLI: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times in August 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Keowee Key Utility System Inc (3750023)
4,108 served · surface water · PWSID SC3750023 - Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between July 2024 and October 2024. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
- Monitoring Revised Total Coliform Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in June 2018. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2012. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
River Bluff S/D (Sc3950005)
133 served · groundwater · PWSID SC3950005 - Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between January 1994 and December 2020. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2009. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Keowee Bay S/D (Sc3750026)
115 served · groundwater · PWSID SC3750026 - Health-based Lead and Copper Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in January 2001. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between November 1999 and July 2009. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times between July 1997 and January 2006. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Bay Ridge S/D (Sc3750027)
62 served · groundwater · PWSID SC3750027 - Health-based Lead and Copper Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 2 times in July 2002. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring TTHM: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times in January 2020. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
- Monitoring Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times in January 2020. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
- Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2009. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between January 1999 and October 2005. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved June 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.