Typical values from 19 sampled wells in Sutter County · Full groundwater profile
Quick Answers for Sutter County Well Owners
No common nuisance problem in the typical well. The typical Sutter well is very hard, with iron below the stain threshold and a pH of 7.6.
Is it safe? Most sampled wells meet health limits; a yearly test confirms yours does.
Typical treatment, in plumbing order:
Usually nothing beyond routine testing. Most Sutter wells need no softener or iron filter, so test before buying equipment.
Not sure what to install? Get a filter recommendation for Sutter County homesIf your water comes from a utility, its annual Consumer Confidence Report is the right source; the figures here are for private wells. Find your utility's report
On this page (8 sections)
Where to Test Well Water in Sutter County
- Your county environmental health department handles private well questions in Sutter County; for a water test, use a state-accredited lab, many of which accept mailed or dropped-off samples.
- Certified labs: State Water Board list of accredited labs (ELAP)
Ask the lab for sample bottles and how quickly the sample must reach it before you collect.
What Are You Noticing in Your Water?
Confirm with a lab test before buying equipment.
Explore California Interactive Map
Explore Sutter County and nearby counties
Sutter County has about 98,000 residents, and its largest communities are Yuba City and Live Oak. Homes outside city and community water systems rely on private domestic wells. Wells here tap the Central Valley aquifer system, and the largest DWR groundwater basin in the county is Sacramento Valley – Sutter.
Across 19 sampled wells, groundwater is very hard (15.2 gpg in the typical well). Arsenic turned up above the 10 µg/L limit in a small sample of wells. These have no taste or smell, so only a lab test shows whether your own well is affected.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Sutter County
The largest California DWR Bulletin 118 groundwater basins in the county are Sacramento Valley – Sutter, Sacramento Valley – North American and Sacramento Valley – Butte.
Another address? Check hardness by ZIP code.
What shows up in local well samples:
- HardnessLimited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended.
Calcium and magnesium dissolved from limestone. Leaves scale on fixtures and water heaters and reduces soap lather. Not a health risk.
Water softener sizing - ArsenicFound above the drinking water limit locally. Limited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended.
Odorless and tasteless, with an EPA limit of 10 µg/L. Only a lab test detects it.
How to test your well
Arsenic, Nitrate, Chromium-6 and Salinity in Sutter County
| Contaminant | Typical well | Wells above limit | California standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 6.8 µg/L | Limited data (19 wells) | 10 µg/L (primary MCL) |
| Nitrate (as nitrogen) | 0.9 mg/L | Limited data (19 wells) | 10 mg/L (primary MCL) |
| Chromium-6 | 0.04 µg/L | 4% of 24 | 10 µg/L (primary MCL since Oct. 1, 2024) |
| Salinity (dissolved solids) | 409 mg/L | Limited data (19 wells) | 500 mg/L recommended, 1,000 mg/L upper (secondary) |
| Hardness | 15.2 gpg | Limited data (19 wells) | No limit; above 7 gpg is hard |
Typical well = median. Standards: State Water Board; samples: Water Quality Portal, since 2000.
How Sutter County Compares to California and the U.S.
See How Sutter County Compares to California & the US
| Share of wells with… | Sutter CountySutter | CaliforniaCA | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | Limited data | 64% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | Limited data | 9% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | Limited data | 22% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 37% | 38% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 0% | 2% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | Limited data | 9% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | Limited data | 14% | 7% |
| Chromium-6 above 10 µg/L (California limit) | 4% | 6% | — |
| Median hardness | 15.2 gpg | 9.9 gpg | — |
| Median pH | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.3 |
Sources: Water Quality Portal (since 2000); US: USGS Circular 1332. Highlighted: well above the US share.
See what a typical Sutter County well needs
Pre-filled with the Sutter medians. Swap in your own results.
Testing Your Well in Sutter County
In California, county environmental health departments handle private well permits and can advise on testing. For bacteria, nitrate, arsenic or a full panel, use a laboratory accredited by California’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP); the State Water Board’s certified lab map lists them.
What to test for in Sutter County:
- Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli), nitrate and arsenic, at least once a year (California State Water Resources Control Board recommendation)
- Hardness in grains per gallon (gpg) to size a softener
- Arsenic, which appeared above the 10 µg/L limit in some sampled wells here
- After any flood, new well work or a change in taste, color or smell
Which tests to order and how: how to test well water.
After a positive coliform test, shock the well with the right bleach dose and retest 10 to 14 days later.
Nearby Counties
Sutter County borders these counties with published reports:
Butte County
6 gpg hardnessColusa County
17.4 gpg hardness · Hardness, ManganesePlacer County
5.1 gpg hardnessSacramento County
6.8 gpg hardness · Arsenic, Chromium-6Yolo County
14.6 gpg hardness · HardnessYuba County
8 gpg hardness · HardnessCounties with similar well water
Farther away, these California counties share the same main water issues:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is well water in Sutter County safe to drink?
Generally yes in the records: health limits are rarely exceeded in the 19 Sutter wells sampled. Bacteria and nitrate can still turn up in any well, so test once a year.
How hard is well water in Sutter County?
Groundwater samples from 19 wells in Sutter County have a median hardness of 15.2 grains per gallon (260 mg/L), which the USGS classes as very hard. Limited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended. The California statewide median is 9.9 gpg.
Is iron a problem in Sutter County well water?
The median iron level across 19 sampled wells is 0 mg/L, below the EPA aesthetic guideline of 0.3 mg/L (limited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended). Most wells will not stain, but if yours does, a lab test tells you whether iron or manganese is the cause.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Sutter County?
Public lab records include sulfide results for only 11 wells in Sutter, not enough to judge. The smell comes from hydrogen sulfide; a sulfide test confirms it, and at household levels it is a nuisance, not a health hazard.
Is chromium-6 a concern in Sutter County well water?
Hexavalent chromium was above California’s 10 µg/L drinking water limit in 4% of 24 sampled wells in Sutter County. The limit took effect on October 1, 2024. It has no taste or smell, so only a lab test shows whether your well is affected; reverse osmosis is a common household treatment.
Can I install a salt-based water softener in Sutter County?
Usually, but check local rules first. California Water Code Section 13148 lets some local sewer and water recycling agencies limit or ban new salt-discharging softeners to protect recycled water. Homes on septic systems should ask the county environmental health department about brine. A salt-free conditioner discharges no brine, but it reduces scale rather than softening the water.
Does boiling well water make it safe to drink in Sutter County?
For a bacteria problem, yes: boil for one minute (three above 6,500 feet). For anything chemical, no, because evaporation concentrates it. Our boiling well water myth buster explains the difference.
How often should I test my well water in Sutter County?
The California State Water Resources Control Board recommends testing domestic wells every year, including for bacteria, nitrate and arsenic, and again after flooding or well repairs.
Written by Well Water Advisor Editorial Team.