Is Sacramento tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Sacramento's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns including PFAS detected. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

70/100
Purity Score
2
Issues Found
3.2 GPG
Hardness
Detected
PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Sacramento

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Detected

PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not break down and accumulate in the body.

PFAS details for Sacramento

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.3 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Sacramento
California

942,039,420,494,205 · Sacramento River

Sacramento, CA Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 524,943 residents
See Best Filters for Sacramento
70
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
2.9 ppt
Lead
2.2 ppb
Nitrate
0.8 mg/L
Arsenic
0.3 mg/L
Hardness
3.2 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    PFAS have been identified in Sacramento's water at 2.9 parts per trillion. A reverse osmosis system is the most reliable home treatment.

Score

70 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

Sacramento tap water is sourced from Sacramento River and treated by Sacramento Utilities Department. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected. Overall purity score: 70/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

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Best filters matched to Sacramento's 2 issues.

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PFAS in SacramentoForever chemicals
Lead in SacramentoLead risk
Sacramento Hard WaterHardness data
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Sacramento Water FAQ

Is Sacramento CA tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Sacramento tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 70/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected at 2.9 ppt. An NSF-certified filter is strongly recommended. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Sacramento CA use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Sacramento uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.0 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Sacramento CA water and what is the TDS level?
Sacramento water hardness is 3.2 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 115 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Sacramento CA drinking water?
Yes. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected in Sacramento water at approximately 2.9 ppt according to EPA UCMR5 monitoring data. A reverse osmosis or NSF P473-certified filter is the most effective residential solution.
What is the best water filter for Sacramento?
Based on Sacramento's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Sacramento: PFAS detected or elevated lead risk. Reverse osmosis is the only residential technology proven to reduce both below detection limits. TDS will also drop significantly.

Nearby Reports

BakersfieldCalifornia — 55/100RiversideCalifornia — 58/100San BernardinoCalifornia — 58/100Moreno ValleyCalifornia — 58/100FontanaCalifornia — 58/100Chula VistaCalifornia — 61/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Sacramento Utilities Department CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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