Safe Drinking Water Today and for Our Future
Salem's water treatment facility on Geren Island in the North Santiam River has served Salem residents top quality drinking water since 1937.
The current treatment steps include filtration, pre-treatment (when needed), ozone treatment, chlorine disinfection, fluoridation, and pH adjustment to reduce the leaching of lead from household plumbing.
Over many years, Salem has made strategic investments in the water treatment facility and distribution system. Now, the City is investing nearly $80 million to improve water facilities and adopt programs to make certain our community has a safe and resilient drinking water system well into the future.
Installing State-of-the-Art Drinking Water Treatment Method to Remove Cyanotoxins
The long-term solution for removing algae and toxins is to add ozone as a treatment step. Ozone is one of the strongest disinfectants used to treat water. This treatment produces no taste or odor and no ozone is left in the water after treatment.
Staff are monitoring and sampling water in Detroit Reservoir and the North Santiam River and are ready to respond if cyanotoxins are detected.
In-House Capability to Test for Cyanotoxins
The City has acquired lab equipment that tests for cyanotoxins and gives timely results. This in-house capability gives operators the information they need to make the best water treatment decisions. Salem expects to become the first community to earn state accreditation for this testing procedure through the Oregon Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP).
Detecting Harmful Algae Blooms
Some of the world's foremost experts have been consulted on the best techniques for early bloom detection, including using satellite imagery and water profile testing. The City is partnering with other agencies and organizations to use these new methods to predict blooms and be prepared.
Getting Prepared for Emergencies
The City of Salem is better prepared today with the equipment, partnerships, and volunteer resources ready to distribute water more quickly, community-wide.
- City water tankers. The water tankers have been refurbished and are ready for use.
- Water delivery trailers. Three water delivery trailers are ready to go starting May 1, 2019.
- Preparedness. The City is ready to operate eight or more emergency water stations. Partnerships are in place to operate eight additional stations around the city.
- Volunteers. Salem is developing a database of volunteers, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The City is supporting CERT recruitment and training.
- Training. Emergency preparedness classes have been held at Capitol Manor, and business training events are planned. A new course is offered in Spanish.
- Coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers. The City works closely with the Army Corps of Engineers—the agency responsible for operating the dam at Detroit Reservoir—and coordinates with the Corps on dam operations.
- Regional Watershed Coordination. City staff collaborate with the communities in the North Santiam watershed.
Sharing Information with the Community
The City is launching a campaign to get more community members signed up to Salem's Community Alert System. The Community Alert System will provide more information earlier in an event. The system also reaches the Spanish speaking households. The City is also increasing its public outreach and engagement efforts.
Exploring Supplemental Water Supplies
Salem is evaluating options for supplemental water supplies that include groundwater wells at the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility and expansion of the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system at Woodmansee Park. Other water sources are also being studied as part of the City's Water Master Plan update.
What Salem Residents and Businesses Can Do
Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. Four things you can do now:
Please contact the City of Salem if you have questions:
