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City water profile

Salem water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

204PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 203.5–203.5 PPM

State comparison
63 PPM above
State hardness rank
#29 of 179
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Salem has 1 published ZIP profile across Doddridge County. The indexed median is 204 PPM, compared with 141 PPM across West Virginia.

Among the 179 West Virginiacities with an indexed median, Salem ranks #29from highest to lowest. Across all 219 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 85.5to 265 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 hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard1 ZIP

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
39.1 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 1

Observation window: Jan 19, 2016 to Sep 24, 2025.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Salem

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

26426

Very Hard

203.5 PPM

Nearest site
39.1 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Salem Water Board

PWSID WV3301720

Surface water
System population served
1,630
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.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Consumer Confidence RuleWV3301720Oct 1, 2025Unaddressed
Public NoticeWV3301720Aug 16, 2025Unaddressed
Public NoticeWV3301720Aug 16, 2025Unaddressed
Public NoticeWV3301720Aug 16, 2025Unaddressed
Public NoticeWV3301720Aug 16, 2025Unaddressed
Consumer Confidence RuleWV3301720Jul 1, 2025Resolved
Public NoticeWV3301720Feb 15, 2025Unaddressed
Public NoticeWV3301720Feb 15, 2025Unaddressed
Public NoticeWV3301720Feb 15, 2025Unaddressed
Public NoticeWV3301720Feb 15, 2025Unaddressed

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 204 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.