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City water profile

Salem water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Salem, Virginia.

Median indexed hardness

115PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 115–115 PPM

State comparison
81 PPM above
State hardness rank
#13 of 37
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Salem has 1 published ZIP profile across Roanoke County. The indexed median is 115 PPM, compared with 34 PPM across Virginia.

Among the 37 Virginiacities with an indexed median, Salem ranks #13from highest to lowest. Across all 133 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 9to 253 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard1 ZIP
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard0 ZIPs

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
44.6 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 1

Observation window: Feb 3, 2016 to Jun 24, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Salem

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

24153

Moderately Hard

115 PPM

Nearest site
44.6 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Salem, City Of

PWSID VA2775300

Surface water
System population served
25,643
Last reported
May 19, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

No violation records are included in the current lookback window.

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Salem

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 115 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.