Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CITY OF SACRAMENTO MAIN
CITY OF SACRAMENTO MAIN delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 527,979 residents in SACRAMENTO, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 916-808-8667.
Is SACRAMENTO tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF SACRAMENTO MAIN delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 527,979 residents in SACRAMENTO, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Trichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Uranium. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF SACRAMENTO MAIN (system ID CA3410020) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for SACRAMENTO residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CITY OF SACRAMENTO MAIN.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.977 ppt, 977x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 27.8 ppb, 463x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.54 ppb, 385x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Contact CITY OF SACRAMENTO MAIN
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for SACRAMENTO
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 48/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.4 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.977 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 977× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
27.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 463× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.54 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 385× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
55.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 371× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 361× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
22.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 227× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.8 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 140× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
49.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 123× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.35 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 89× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
11.7 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.28 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.1× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.28 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.1× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.679 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.8× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.545 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 6.1× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.56 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.3× over |
| Vanadium Other |
12.4 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.218 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0175 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
26.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.75 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.358 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.354 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
1.39 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.897 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.0227 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.39 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.351 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.177 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.109 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.154 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.065 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.034 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.13 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
1.68 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.013 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CITY OF SACRAMENTO MAIN service area
This water system serves 1 community in Sacramento County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SACRAMENTO water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.