Is Elk Grove, CA tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

SCWA – Laguna/Vineyard, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA, PFOS) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: these findings are about longer-term exposure, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

3 public water systems serve parts of Elk Grove. The largest, SCWA – Laguna/Vineyard, serves 188,417 people, and 2 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

SCWA – Laguna/Vineyard

188,417 people · Surface water · EPA ID CA3410029

Buys treated water from City of Sacramento Main.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	9.7 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	15.5 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	4.2 ppt	10 ppt	Detected, below limit
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 95% of the California systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 93% of the California systems EPA tested.

Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1

Full SCWA – Laguna/Vineyard results

Across California, 129 of 691 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 26 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. California results.

Elk Grove homes and lead pipes

of homes built before 1980 (California 56%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (California 14%)

26%

of households rent (California 44%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Elk Grove city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Elk Grove

California American Water – Parkway
50,646 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
PFOS above limitAlso: PFOA detected · PFHxS detected
Elk Grove Water District
44,065 people · Purchased surface water · California · lists this city
PFHxS detected

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS
Galt 11 mi City of Galt	City of Galt	None above limits
Sacramento 11 mi City of Sacramento Main	City of Sacramento Main	Above limit
West Sacramento 13 mi City of West Sacramento	City of West Sacramento	None above limits
Rancho Cordova 14 mi California American Water – Suburban Rosemont	California American Water – Suburban Rosemont	Above limit
Citrus Heights 20 mi Sacramento Suburban Water District	Sacramento Suburban Water District	None above limits
Lodi 21 mi City of Lodi	City of Lodi	Above limit

Elk Grove ZIP codes (2)

95624
95758

Questions

Is Elk Grove tap water safe to drink?

SCWA – Laguna/Vineyard had 1 health-based violation since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Elk Grove, CA?

3 public water systems serve parts of Elk Grove. The largest is SCWA – Laguna/Vineyard (188,417 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Elk Grove tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA and PFOS at SCWA – Laguna/Vineyard. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Elk Grove homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 9% of Elk Grove homes as built before 1980 (California: 56%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. SCWA – Laguna/Vineyard's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.