CITY REPORT CA 14 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Sacramento, CA: 14 Health Violations - 82/100

102 ZIP codes · 20 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Sacramento: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (14 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →

Public water monitoring in Sacramento shows a safety record well above the CA median - health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS

102
ZIP Codes
20
Water Systems
11
ZIPs with Violations
B · 82
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)

Key Facts for Sacramento Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 37 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.0022 mg/L.

Water Quality in Sacramento

We track home safety signals for 102 ZIP codes in Sacramento, California. EPA community-water data is directly mapped for 28 ZIP codes and 20 water systems.

11 of 28 directly mapped ZIP records with reported violation counts (39%) have recorded EPA violations - 37 total, including 14 health-based violations.

Average Home Safety Score: B (82/100)

Water sources: Groundwater, Surface water.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 28 10
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 7 7
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 2 2

Lead Risk

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0022 mg/L
  • 0 of 28 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
  • 69% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
  • 16% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
  • Median year built: 1972
  • Most common estimated pipe material: Copper
  • Lead exposure risk score: 52/100
  • Estimated lead service line probability: 21%
  • 21 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 69% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Sacramento residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

325,298 total housing units across 102 ZIP codes:

Era Units Share
Pre-1940 24,395 7%
1940–1949 18,636 6%
1950–1959 45,229 14%
1960–1969 41,701 13%
1970–1979 60,106 18%
1980–1989 53,101 16%
1990–1999 26,869 8%
2000–2009 38,682 12%
2010–2019 15,345 5%
2020+ 1,234 0%

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Sacramento:

  • 2,707 flood insurance claims on record
  • $20,887,541 sum of reported building, contents, and ICC payment components
  • 1,560 claims with payment data
  • 1,147 claims without reported payment fields
  • $13,389 average reported component sum among claims with payment data
  • Dominant rated-zone value in historical claims: A99 (A/V-family)
  • 24 of 29 ZIP codes with claim-zone records have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims
  • Claim-zone values are historical insurance records, not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory

Radon Risk

Dominant EPA radon zone among 102 ZIP records with zone data: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

  • Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 3 (Low): 102 ZIP codes

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
95837 100/100 A 0
95842 100/100 A 0
95811 83/100 B 0
95814 83/100 B 0
95816 83/100 B 0
95817 83/100 B 0
95818 83/100 B 0
95819 83/100 B 0
95820 83/100 B 0
95821 83/100 B 2

Areas Needing Attention

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
95864 75/100 B 6
95825 75/100 B 4
95824 75/100 B 4
95815 75/100 B 4
95830 78/100 B 3
95829 78/100 B 3
95828 78/100 B 3
95827 78/100 B 3
95826 78/100 B 3
95823 79/100 B 2

What Sacramento Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

  • Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
  • Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
  • Check your ZIP code - each area in Sacramento has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

  • NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
  • NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
  • Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Stay Informed

All ZIP Codes in Sacramento

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in Sacramento, CA?

The Home Safety Score is not a drinking-water grade. Sacramento has an average score of 82/100 (grade B) across 28 ZIP codes with complete current-model evidence. Separately, there are 37 recorded EPA violations across 28 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts, 14 of which are health-based. Check the specific ZIP and serving utility before drawing a water-safety conclusion.

Does Sacramento have lead in the water?

The average 90th-percentile lead level across Sacramento is 0.0022 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. 0 of 28 ZIP codes with known action-level status exceed the EPA limit. About 69% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is Sacramento at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 2,707 flood insurance claim records in Sacramento ZIP codes, with an average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum of $13,389 among 1,560 claims with payment data. 1,147 claims lack reported payment fields and are not counted as zero. Among 29 ZIP codes with historical claim-zone values, 24 have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims. Claim records do not establish current property-level flood risk; check the FEMA map for a specific address.

Are there lead pipes in Sacramento homes?

69% of Sacramento housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 16% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 21%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

What contaminants have been found in Sacramento water?

The most common contaminants by violation count are Stage 2 DBP Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Across 28 ZIP codes with directly mapped EPA water data, 11 have recorded EPA violations. Check your ZIP code report for the specific contaminants in your area.

Data Sources

Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.

Sacramento Infrastructure Age

1972
Median Build Year
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

Median build year of 1972 means many homes predate lead paint and lead solder regulations. Consider testing if your home has original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Lead solder was federally prohibited in new plumbing in 1986. In Sacramento, the median build year of 1972 puts a majority of homes in the lower-risk category for that specific contamination pathway - though the pre-1986 share shown above still carries real exposure potential at the individual household level.

1972
Median Year Built
0%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
0%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in Sacramento were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Sacramento: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

0.0022
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

Lead risk in Sacramento appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Sacramento: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

2,707
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$13,389
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
83%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Sacramento contains 2,707 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $13,389. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 83% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure.

Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.

Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Sacramento, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Sacramento, CA?
Sacramento has an average Home Safety Score of 82/100 (Grade B) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 37 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does Sacramento have?
Sacramento water systems have a total of 37 EPA violations, including 14 health-based violations. Violations are tracked across 102 ZIP codes.
Does Sacramento water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Sacramento is 0.0022 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How many water systems serve Sacramento?
Sacramento is served by 20 public water systems across 102 ZIP codes, serving approximately 846,557 people.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Sacramento, CA: 14 Health Violations - 82/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ca/sacramento/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ca-sacramento,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Sacramento, CA: 14 Health Violations - 82/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ca/sacramento/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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