Sacramento tap water sometimes runs cloudy, and can have an “earthy” taste and smell on hot summer days. Having a water filter handy usually helps. The water that comes from your kitchen sink is generally safe to drink, according to officials, and it exceeds the standards the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets. When should you question your water’s quality? What are the standards? Water quality is regulated in the United States, but just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s safe, according to Environmental Working Group, an activism organization. In California, a 2022 report showed the state was slow to help roughly 1 million residents with tainted drinking water.

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