Updated
Two rivers meet here, and they don't taste the same
Sacramento sits where the American River joins the Sacramento River. The city gets about 80% of its water from those two rivers and about 20% from groundwater wells. Each source has its own chemistry, so the water at your tap depends a lot on your neighborhood.
Three sources compared
| Measure (2023–2025) | Fairbairn (American R.) | Sacramento R. plant | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness, gpg | 2.0 | 3.7 | 0.9–9.0 |
| Calcium, mg/L | 11 | 17 | 4.1–26 |
| Sodium, mg/L | 2.3 | 7.0 | 18–74 |
| Bicarbonate alkalinity | 25 | 52 | 94–150 |
The American River carries Sierra snowmelt and is close to distilled. Wells pick up minerals from the valley's sediments. The system averages 83 mg/L (4.9 gpg), but that average describes no actual home. If you're on wells near the high end, the hardness converter and softener sizing tool will show whether a softener is worth it. On Fairbairn water, it isn't.
Watershed risks
Source assessments for both rivers, first completed in 2000–2001 and updated through regional sanitary surveys, found both rivers vulnerable to recreation-related contamination. The Sacramento River is also vulnerable to farm runoff from the valley above the city. That farm runoff is one reason the two plants' water differs.
Byproducts and groundwater trace metals
- Trihalomethanes: 63 µg/L reported for compliance (range 8–74), under the 80 limit but on the high side for this site's city pages.
- Haloacetic acids: 29 µg/L, under the 60 limit.
- Hexavalent chromium: not detected in Fairbairn water, 0.1 µg/L from the Sacramento River plant, and up to 7.0 µg/L in groundwater, against California's 10 µg/L MCL.
- Arsenic: up to 4.3 µg/L in wells (limit 10).
- Nitrate: up to 3.0 mg/L in wells (limit 10).
- Lithium: up to 25.4 µg/L in wells under federal UCMR5 sampling (unregulated).
The report covers PFAS as a statewide groundwater concern. It describes the city's commitment to ongoing monitoring and public notification, and points to the city's FAQ for details.
A city with no lead lines
Sacramento's lead story is unusual. The 2024 service line inventory found no lead or galvanized lines needing replacement. In the 2023 tap sampling, the 90th percentile for lead was non-detect, and none of 56 samples exceeded the action level. Copper's 90th percentile was 0.06 mg/L. From 2017 to 2019 the city also tested lead at every public school that asked. A tap filter here is mainly for taste, chlorine or the THMs. To compare costs, use the filter cost per gallon calculator.
Common Sacramento questions
Why does my friend across town have harder water?
The source depends on where you live. Water from the E.A. Fairbairn plant on the American River averages 34 mg/L hardness (2.0 gpg), the Sacramento River plant 63 mg/L (3.7 gpg), and the city's groundwater wells range from 15 to 154 mg/L (0.9–9.0 gpg).
Are there lead pipes in Sacramento?
The city's 2024 systemwide service line inventory found no lead or galvanized service lines that need replacing in its service area. Lead can still come from older faucets or solder inside a home.
Is Sacramento water fluoridated?
Yes. Treated water averaged 0.7 mg/L in 2025 (range 0.2–1.0). The rivers carry almost none naturally (source average 0.1).
Where can I see current data?
The city publishes updates at sacramentowaterquality.com and tests for more than 100 substances.
References
- City of Sacramento, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (published June 1, 2026)
- City of Sacramento water quality FAQ: lead
- California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water
Reviewed November 1, 2026 against the sources above. Public water system ID CA3410020 (City of Sacramento Department of Utilities). Figures describe the utility's system, not your home's plumbing; a certified lab test tells you what comes out of your tap. Spot an error? Tell us.