Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER DISTRICT
SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water graded D (57/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 194,444 residents in SACRAMENTO, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 916-972-7171.
Is SACRAMENTO tap water safe to drink?
SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 194,444 residents in SACRAMENTO, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Chromium (hexavalent), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Arsenic, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromoacetic acid, Chlorate. 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 SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER DISTRICT (system ID CA3410001) 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 SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER DISTRICT.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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 0.871 ppt, 871x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 36.2 ppb, 362x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 20.4 ppb, 339x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.438 ppb.
Contact SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER DISTRICT
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 57/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.871 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 871× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
20.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 339× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
3.9 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 195× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
24.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 162× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
11.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 112× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.438 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 109× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
21.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.87 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.56 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.78 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 13× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.61 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.573 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 9.6× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.373 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.7× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.269 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 3.0× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0404 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
227.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.288 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
14.4 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.27 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.445 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.01 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0901 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
69.4 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.08 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0155 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
2.08 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.127 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0744 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.489 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.371 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.275 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.085 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.000221 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.071 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.131 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 17-beta-Estradiol Radiological |
0.022 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.251 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| DCPA mono- and di-acid degradates Other |
0.289 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0848 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0374 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
7.34 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.00853 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.002 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.
SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER DISTRICT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Sacramento County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
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