Is Sacramento, CA Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Where Does Sacramento Get Its Water?

Sacramento, CA is served by a mix of surface water and groundwater sources, depending on which utility supplies your address. The primary municipal provider is the City of Sacramento's water system, which draws from the Sacramento River. California American Water also serves portions of the city through several district systems, and Sacramento Suburban Water District covers additional areas.

Key treatment facilities include the Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant, the E.A. Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant, the Countryside Water Treatment Plant, the Parksite Water Treatment Plant, and the Vintage Park Water Treatment Plant. These plants handle the bulk of surface water processing for the region.

Groundwater wells supplement the supply across many service areas. California American Water's Arden, Parkway, Fruitridge Vista, and Suburban Rosemont systems rely heavily on local wells, which draw from the regional groundwater basin beneath the Sacramento Valley.

How Is Sacramento Tap Water Treated?

Water treatment in Sacramento uses several methods depending on the facility and source. Surface water goes through coagulation and sedimentation to remove particles, followed by filtration. Granular activated carbon filtration is also used at some plants, which helps reduce organic compounds and certain chemical contaminants before water reaches your tap.

Disinfection is handled with free chlorine, which kills bacteria and viruses and maintains a protective residual through the distribution pipes to your home. Additional treatment steps at various facilities include processes to manage groundwater-specific concerns such as aeration and other conditioning methods.

The treatment network spans multiple plants and dozens of wells, so the specific treatment train for your water depends on your address and which utility serves it. All systems are regulated under California and federal drinking water rules.

What's in Sacramento Tap Water?

Lithium is the primary concern in Sacramento's tap water data. EPA testing detected lithium in 37 ZIP codes, with a peak measured value of 56 µg/L. That peak is more than five times EPA's health reference level of 10 µg/L. Eighteen of the 19 ZIP codes tracked in this dataset showed lithium above that 10 µg/L benchmark. It is important to note that the 10 µg/L figure is a non-regulatory screening level, not an enforceable federal limit. There is currently no federal maximum contaminant level for lithium in drinking water.

Several PFAS compounds were also detected across all 19 ZIP codes in the dataset. These include PFTrDA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, and 6:2 FTS, each measured at or at the reporting limit of 0.005 to 0.007 µg/L. None of these specific compounds exceeded an EPA guideline in the data, and zero ZIP codes were flagged above a guideline for PFAS.

Lithium in drinking water typically originates from natural geological sources, as it leaches from rock and soil into groundwater over time. The Sacramento Valley's groundwater basin can carry naturally occurring lithium at varying concentrations depending on depth and location.

Health Risk Profile for Sacramento

The main documented concern is lithium above EPA's health reference level. The reference level is 10 µg/L, and Sacramento samples reached as high as 56 µg/L. This is a non-regulatory screening benchmark, meaning it does not represent a legal violation or a finding that water is unsafe under federal rules. It does signal a level where health researchers recommend closer attention, particularly for certain groups.

Infants are the most sensitive group for lithium exposure. EPA's health reference level is specifically protective of bottle-fed infants, whose kidneys process lithium less efficiently than adults. Pregnant individuals and people with kidney conditions are also advised to pay attention, as lithium can affect thyroid function and renal clearance at higher exposures over time.

If you are concerned about lithium or PFAS, a reverse osmosis filter certified to NSF/ANSI 58 is the most effective option for both. NSF/ANSI certification is an independent third-party label verified by a nonprofit standards organization, so look for that mark on the box or product page. For the PFAS compounds detected here, a filter also certified to NSF/ANSI P473 adds specific verification for PFOA and PFOS removal, which shares chemistry with many other PFAS.

For PFAS specifically, all detected compounds in this dataset were at or below reporting limits, meaning concentrations could be near zero or non-detect. The science on lower-level PFAS exposure is still evolving, and EPA continues to update guidance as research develops.