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Hydrology/Water Quality

Hydrology
The surface and ground water supplies in Sacramento County provide residents with water for municipal, commercial, agricultural and recreational uses. Our most prominent surface waters are the Sacramento and American rivers. The Sacramento River, the largest and longest river in the state, flows wide and deep along the County's western edge. The American River, with its clear blue-green waters, tumbles down from the high Sierra carrying relatively clear, clean, silt-free waters through Sacramento County along the American River Parkway. Through agreements with other public agencies the County uses both these rivers to provide surface water to residents.

The County's ground water resources are less abundant than its surface waters, yet ground water accounts for approximately 60 percent of the County's water use. Unlike the yearly replacement of surface water supplies from spring runoff, ground water resources recharge more slowly. In some portions of the south County, which relies heavily on groundwater resources, annual pumping is greater than natural recharge of the aquifer. This is referred to as groundwater overdraft, which is a lowering of the water table. Groundwater overdraft reduces available groundwater supplies and can significantly impact groundwater quality.


Water Quality
Ground and surface water quality, in general, is relatively good in Sacramento County. Water quality, however, can be compromised by urban runoff and to a lesser extent by agricultural runoff. If unchecked, both can contribute pollutants to our water supply. In addition, groundwater quality has been compromised by older industrial practices, which were environmentally unsound and no longer take place.

To maintain and improve the quality of our surface and ground water supplies, pollutants must be kept from entering the County's rivers, streams and aquifers. Factors that can protect and increase our water quality include minimizing impervious surfaces, decreasing concentrations of non-point source pollutants, such as runoff from streets and fields, reducing the number of septic tank leach fields, naturally filtering high nutrient loads from pastures, and enhancing sediment control measures during grading for new developments.
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Department of Environmental Review and Assessment
827 7th Street, Sacramento California 95814
phone (916) 874-7914  fax (916) 874-8343