Sacramento County Water Quality 2024 Reports
Major Pollutants in Sacramento’s Water
• PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”).
• PFOS: 41.4 ppt.
• PFOA: 15.6 ppt.
• EPA limit exceeded; affects over 500,000 residents.
• Found in Well 133 and other locations.
• Chromium-6.
• Average: 4,000 ppt.
• 200x higher than cancer-risk benchmarks.
• Linked to increased cancer risk.
• Arsenic.
• Up to 4.3 ppb in some wells.
• Approaching federal limits.
• Known carcinogen; linked to organ damage.
• E. coli Bacteria.
• Detected in 10 of 12 monitoring stations on the Lower American River.
• Half of those stations exceeded limits more than 50% of the time.
• Copper, Mercury, Pesticides.
• Found in Sacramento River and tributaries.
• Contribute to habitat degradation and recreational restrictions.
• Agricultural Runoff.
• Pesticides and fertilizers from 2+ million acres of watershed.
• Contaminates surface water sources.
Health Effects on Residents
• PFAS Exposure.
• Associated with liver, kidney, testicular, and thyroid cancers.
• Linked to thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Chromium-6 and Arsenic.
• Long-term exposure increases risk of various cancers.
• Can cause skin, lung, and organ damage.
• E. coli.
• Causes gastrointestinal illness, especially dangerous for children and immunocompromised individuals.
• Heavy Metals and Pesticides.
• Neurological damage, developmental issues, and reproductive harm over time
Sacramento’s water system serves over 500,000 people, drawing 80% from surface water and 20% from groundwater. Despite meeting federal standards, these elevated contaminants warrant urgent action—from filtration systems to policy reform and community engagement.
The Green Spark Mission
We’re mainly a force of volunteers, tech innovators, and everyday heroes cleaning up tras the streets before the rain hits. We intercept pollution at the source, restore pride with locals, and pressure city leaders to fix broken systems. Our mission is urgent, our impact is visible, and our community is growing—fast.