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.
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