Sacramento County tap water: hardness, PFAS and lead
Sacramento County, California has about 1,611,231 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 62 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is City of Sacramento Main, serving about 527,979 people from surface water.
! 1 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 4 of 6 sampled systemsHardness 15–154 mg/L, varies by area
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
How hard is Sacramento County water?
City of Sacramento MainMeasured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence
15–154 mg/L(varies by area; no single average published)
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
Softener size at 9 gpg
For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 10,773 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 24,000 grain. Hardness varies by area here, so this uses the harder plant's figure (9 gpg). If your address gets softer water, a smaller unit may do; check your area in the utility report or test your tap.
Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
The 6 biggest of 62 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.
City of Sacramento Main
CA3410020 · serves about 527,979 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (8 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2021-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFOS: highest sample 41.4 ppt (6 of 28 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFHxS: highest sample 19.1 ppt (6 of 28 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFOA: highest sample 17.3 ppt (2 of 28 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFBA: highest sample 7.4 ppt (2 of 28 samples); no federal limit
PFPeA: highest sample 6.5 ppt (3 of 28 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 6.3 ppt (2 of 28 samples); no federal limit
PFBS: highest sample 6.2 ppt (4 of 28 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFHpA: highest sample 4.4 ppt (2 of 28 samples); no federal limit
CA3410001 · serves about 194,444 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (4 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFPeA: highest sample 7.1 ppt (5 of 116 samples); no federal limit
PFHxS: highest sample 5.8 ppt (1 of 116 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFHxA: highest sample 5.7 ppt (4 of 116 samples); no federal limit
PFBS: highest sample 4.7 ppt (1 of 116 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
CA3410029 · serves about 188,417 people · Surface water
! 1 health-based violation✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (7 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFOS: highest sample 24 ppt (7 of 40 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFOA: highest sample 14 ppt (10 of 40 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFPeA: highest sample 9.6 ppt (10 of 40 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 8.4 ppt (9 of 40 samples); no federal limit
PFHxS: highest sample 6.8 ppt (5 of 40 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFHpA: highest sample 6.3 ppt (5 of 40 samples); no federal limit
PFBS: highest sample 4.8 ppt (2 of 40 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
CA3410014 · serves about 80,969 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detection✓ No PFAS detected
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2024-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
CA3410006 · serves about 67,818 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detection✓ No PFAS detected
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2022-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
CA3410010 · serves about 54,893 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (7 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFOS: highest sample 13.4 ppt (3 of 42 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFHxS: highest sample 10.9 ppt (8 of 42 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFBA: highest sample 9 ppt (1 of 42 samples); no federal limit
PFOA: highest sample 8.2 ppt (1 of 42 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFPeA: highest sample 7.7 ppt (3 of 42 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 5.4 ppt (4 of 42 samples); no federal limit
PFHpA: highest sample 4.7 ppt (2 of 42 samples); no federal limit
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.
Test your own tap
These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.
Common questions about Sacramento County water
Is tap water in Sacramento County safe to drink?
1 of the 6 largest systems here have at least one health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021 (see each system below for status). City of Sacramento Main's most recent lead 90th percentile was below the lab detection limit (2021), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.
How hard is the water in Sacramento County?
City of Sacramento Main reports hardness from 15 to 154 mg/L depending on where you live, with no single system-wide average, so check your area in its report or test your water. For a 3-person home at 9 gpg (the harder plant's figure, since your address may get either), our softener calculator suggests a 24,000 grain unit as a starting point.
Is there PFAS in Sacramento County water?
4 of the 6 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and 8 results were above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.
Which water system serves my address in Sacramento County?
Most homes are served by City of Sacramento Main or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.
Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.