Water Advisory Information

July 3, 2018​—The drinking water advisory is no longer in effect. Salem’s drinking water is safe for all.


Updated water quality sample test result data and news updates will be posted online as these become available. You will also find links to resources from partner agencies Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) below.

Monitoring status

Algal blooms are a natural process. In the past few years, algae can be seen in Detroit Reservoir, Salem’s drinking water source, from April through October. What was different, and what caused the City of Salem to issue drinking water advisories in 2018, was that there were cyanotoxins detected in the water distribution system for the first time.​

​Monitoring status definitions

Clear​

Drinking water remains safe for all Salem residents and water customers. Based on current ELISA test results from sampling of water within Detroit Reservoir, there are no detectable levels of cyanotoxins present in Salem’s drinking water source.

Monitoring

Drinking water remains safe for all Salem residents and water customers. Based on current test results from sampling of water within Detroit Reservoir, cyanotoxins have been detected in Salem’s drinking water source, but have not been detected within the drinking water distribution system.

Detected

Drinking water remains safe for the majority of Salem residents and water customers. Cyanotoxins have been detected within the drinking water distribution system, but for one day at levels above EPA drinking water advisory thresholds for vulnerable populations. Per OHA rules, an advisory is issued after two consecutive days of sampling above EPA health advisory levels.

Advisory: Vulnerable

​Drinking water remains safe for the majority of Salem residents and water customers. The City has issued a drinking water advisory for vulnerable populations because cyanotoxins have been detected within the drinking water distribution system at levels above the EPA drinking water advisory thresholds for vulnerable populations.

Advisory: Do Not Drink​

​The City has issued a drinking water advisory for all residents and water customers because cyanotoxins have been detected within the drinking water distribution system at levels above the EPA drinking water advisory thresholds.

​Learn more about the City of Salem watershed monitoring program.

​Information from Oregon Health Authority

Information from the Environmental Protection Agency

​City of Salem public records

6/28/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 6 - Redacted Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-6-redacted-emails.zip
6/28/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 6 - Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-6-emails.zip
6/28/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 6 - Denial of Access to Public Recordswater-advisory-public-records-batch-6-denial-of-access-to-public-records.pdf
6/28/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 5 - Redacted Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-5-redacted-emails.zip
6/28/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 5 - Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-5-emails.zip
6/28/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 5 - Denial of Access to Public Recordswater-advisory-public-records-batch-5-denial-of-access-to-public-records.pdf
6/19/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 4 - Emails and Texts (includes redactions)water-advisory-public-records-batch-4-emails-and-texts-includes-redactions.zip
6/19/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 4 - Denial of Access to Public Recordswater-advisory-public-records-batch-4-denial-of-access-to-public-records.pdf
6/19/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 3 - Redacted Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-3-redacted-emails.zip
6/19/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 3 - Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-3-emails.zip
6/19/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 3 - Denial of Access to Public Recordswater-advisory-public-records-batch-3-denial-of-access-to-public-records.pdf
6/14/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 2 - Redacted Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-2-redacted-emails.zip
6/14/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 2 - Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-2-emails.zip
6/14/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 2 - Denial of Access to Public Recordswater-advisory-public-records-batch-2-denial-of-access-to-public-records.pdf
6/12/2018Water Advisory Public Records: Batch 1 - Redacted Emailswater-advisory-public-records-batch-1-redacted-emails.zip
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Water distribution stations

 As of July 3, 2018 at 7 p.m. all water distribution sites are closed.



About Salem’s drinking water source

Learn more about the North Santiam Watershed and how the City of Salem monitors water quality. Open full-screen version of Salem Drinking Water Source map in a new window.

A Tour of Salem's Drinking Water Source

Contact us

Public Works Dispatch
Monday–Sunday
24 hours a day
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