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SITE NAVIGATION

Drinking Water Quality

Consumer Confidence Report

Drinking Water Quality

Consumer Confidence Report

This Consumer Confidence Report was created to help City of Sacramento water customers understand where their water comes from and what it contains.

Routine water supply testing for more than 100 substances is performed to confirm that your water meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards.

The report below, published on June 2, 2025, summarizes all detected water quality results for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2024 and may include earlier monitoring data.

January 1 to December 31, 2024

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Water quality analysis results

Your water meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards.

The City of Sacramento tests for more than 100 substances; however, the Consumer Confidence Report only lists those detected at or above the federal or state level for reporting.

Per the State, some contaminants may be monitored less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.

Our service area

Map showing sources of water for residents and businesses in the city of Sacramento

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This map represents sources of water for residents and businesses in the city of Sacramento, and is meant for educational purposes only. Depending on factors, such as water supply, demand, and time of year, individual residents or businesses could receive water from a mixture of City of Sacramento water sources. SOURCES OF WATER: About 80 percent of the City of Sacramento's water supply comes from the American and Sacramento rivers, and about 20 percent comes from groundwater wells.

Source water assessment

A watershed sanitary survey evaluates source water quality and potential watershed contaminant sources to provide information which helps maintain and improve source water protection, the first barrier in protecting public health. An evaluation of water treatment plant capabilities and treated water quality provides an assessment of the ability of a water utility to treat their source water.

Initial reports for the Sacramento River and American River watersheds were completed in 2000 and 2001. These reports indicated that both rivers are vulnerable to contaminants from recreational activities and that the Sacramento River is vulnerable to agricultural contaminants. The City of Sacramento, in partnership with several other water utilities, completes Watershed Sanitary Survey updates of the river water sources every five years. These updates were most recently completed in 2020 and 2023 for the Sacramento and American rivers, respectively.

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An assessment of the City’s groundwater wells was completed in January 2001. Additional assessments for new groundwater sources were completed in 2015 and 2018. Due to their proximity to potential contaminant sources, the wells north of the American River are considered vulnerable to sewage collection systems, leaking underground storage tanks, known contaminants, agricultural drainage, gas stations, dry cleaners, metal plating and chemical processing storage facilities, electrical/electronic manufacturing, and automobile repair and body shops. Wells south of the American River are considered vulnerable to leaking underground storage tanks, gas stations and sewage collection systems.

Despite these potential vulnerabilities, your water continues to meet or exceed all state and federal drinking water standards. Call 916-808-5454 to request a summary of the assessments or make an appointment for an in-person viewing.

Required disclosures for drinking water customers

This information is presented to further educate consumers about drinking water contaminants.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. U.S. EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

What you should know about...

LEAD

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.

Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with customer service lines and home plumbing.

The City of Sacramento is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in customer plumbing components.

When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.

If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or on the EPA's website.

Lead safety and prevention

Learn about lead hazards and how to protect your health from lead exposure

LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY

The City in 2024 completed a systemwide service line inventory as required by the 2021 Federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.

With the completion of the systemwide service inventory, the City has confirmed that there are no lead service lines or galvanized service lines requiring replacement within the City’s service area.

Visit our lead webpage for more information and to learn about the status of your water service line.

Lead in drinking water

Information and FAQs from the City of Sacramento

LEAD IN SCHOOLS

The City of Sacramento from 2017 to 2019 provided lead testing to all public schools pre-kindergarten to 12th grade that receive City of Sacramento water, as well as private schools that opted to participate.

More than 600 samples were tested from 132 schools and results were non-detect (less than 5 micrograms per liter) in 97 percent of the samples.

All results are publicly available on the SWRCB's website.

Lead sampling in schools

Information and data from the State Water Resources Control Board

CYANOTOXINS

Microcystins and cylindrospermopsin are algal toxins produced by naturally occurring cyanobacteria in surface water sources (such as the American and Sacramento rivers).

These compounds are subject to a U.S. EPA Health Advisory and due to their potential presence in our source waters, the City of Sacramento voluntarily monitors for these compounds during certain seasons, typically summer through late fall.

There were no detections of microcystins or cylindrospermopsin during routine monitoring in 2024.

Cyanotoxins in drinking water

EPA health advisories on cyanotoxins to protect drinking water safety

EARTHY OR MUSTY TASTE AND ODOR

Some customers may notice an “earthy” taste in City drinking water, most often in late summer.

This is due to the presence of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol, which are odor compounds that are not removed through conventional water treatment.

Although these compounds do not impact the safety of the City’s drinking water, some customers find the taste and odor to be unpleasant.

Chilling the water can help improve the taste.

Drinking water quality FAQs

Learn why tap water's taste or smell may vary due to different factors

REVISED TOTAL COLIFORM RULE COMPLIANCE STATUS

The Revised Total Coliform Rule protects public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of microbials, specifically, total coliform and E. coli bacteria.

Water systems that exceed a specified frequency of total coliform occurrences are required to conduct an assessment to determine if any sanitary defects exist.

Additionally, water systems that exceed the E. Coli maximum contaminant level are required to issue public notification within 24 hours.

The City of Sacramento was in compliance with the Revised Total Coliform Rule throughout 2024.

Revised Total Coliform Rule

Learn about EPA's coliform rules for ensuring safe and clean drinking water

PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS)

According to the SWRCB Division of Drinking Water, exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – which are known as PFAS – through drinking water has become an increasing concern due to the tendency of PFAS to accumulate in groundwater.

PFAS are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in waterproof, stain-resistant, or non-stick consumer products.

In addition, they have been used in firefighting foam and various industrial processes.

As part of our mission to provide City customers with drinking water of the highest quality, the City of Sacramento is committed to continued monitoring, public notification, and effective management of this emerging water quality issue.

More detailed information is available on our PFAs webpage.

Toxic PFAS firefighting foam floating down street

PFAS and water quality

Learn about PFAS, their impact and Sacramento's water quality efforts

Notice of opportunity for public participation

The Sacramento City Council generally holds public meetings on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and/or 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

You can access City Council agendas on the City's website.

POTABILITY STATEMENT: The City of Sacramento water supply meets all potability requirements as set forth by the EPA and the California Safe Drinking Water Act, Title 22. This certification applies to City of Sacramento water that is provided up to the property line, backflow preventer, or water meter (whichever comes first) of water customers within the City of Sacramento service area.

Contact us

To report a concern:

City of Sacramento, Department of Utilities
311 or 916-264-5011
24 hours a day, 7 days a week

For questions about this report:

Rory Hartkemeyer
Program Specialist
City of Sacramento Department of Utilities’ Water Quality Lab
916-808-3738
rHartkemeyer@cityofsacramento.org

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