Is there PFAS in City of Sacramento Main water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show City of Sacramento Main averaged 38.8 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 9.7 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

City of Sacramento Main is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Sacramento, California, serving about 527,979 people, including Mcclellan, North Highlands, Rio Linda, Elk Grove, Sacramento. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 28 times across 13 sampling points between Aug 2023 and May 2024.

Every PFAS detected

Not detected: 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFHpS, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, ADONA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFNA, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, HFPO-DA.

Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 25.4 ppb, detected in 2 of 28 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.

What the EPA limits mean here

In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.

Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.

What you can do at home

Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.

Other systems in California

• City of Fresno above an EPA limit
• Long Beach-city, Water Dept. none detected
• Irvine Ranch Water District 2 PFAS detected
• Eastern Municipal WD none detected
• City of Anaheim above an EPA limit
• Alameda County Water District none detected

All 707 tested systems in California

ZIP codes served

95652 95660 95673 95758 95811 95814 95815 95816 95817 95818 95819 95820 95821 95822 95823 95824 95825 95826 95828 95829 95831 95832 95833 95834 95835 95838 95841 95864

As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.

Cite this page

Well & Tap. "PFAS in City of Sacramento Main water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID CA3410020. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/california/city-of-sacramento-main/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID CA3410020). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.