Water Treatment Process

Eighty-five percent (85%) of Sacramento’s drinking water comes from our neighboring rivers. To collect water, the City has two intake structures, one located on the American River and one located on the Sacramento River. Each feeds water to a water treatment plant, E.A. Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant on the American River and the Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant on the Sacramento River. The treatment processes at both plants are the same.

After the water is treated, it flows through our distribution system to reservoirs where it is stored until it is needed. There are several reservoirs located throughout the City.