Utilities News
With the County of Sacramento stay-at-home order issued over 50 days ago, the Department of Utilities is concerned about harmful bacteria that can grow in standing water leftover in pipes of vacant building. These bacteria can potentially become a health risk when residents or owners return to their businesses. To avoid exposure, it is important that anyone returning to a vacant building flush their pipes thoroughly.
Residents and business owners can follow the instructions from the American Water Works Association Notice on Returning Unoccupied Buildings to Service and the Centers for Disease Control’s Guidance for Building Water Systems to make sure their water systems are properly flushed.
All City Public Counters are Closed as of 3/19/20
In light of recent directives from the County Public Health Official, and in order to ensure the safety of our customers, community and employees, all City of Sacramento public counters are closed effective 3/19/20 in response to the Coronavirus Disease COVID-19.
For assistance with inquiries regarding customer accounts, please contact Customer Service at (916) 808-5454. Inquiries may also be made via our email address at utilitiescs@cityofsacramento.org.
Payments may be made utilizing the City’s Mobile Pay App, online via the City’s Utility Billing page, automated phone system, or over the phone with a customer service representative.
There is no charge for payments made utilizing these methods.
If you need assistance with a vehicle or site hydrant permit, please contact Customer Service at (916) 808-5454 for assistance over the phone. Payment for vehicle inspections, meter deposits and installations may be made by credit card only.
In order to ensure continued access to critical utility services, the Department of Utilities is not shutting off services for non-payment and will waive late fees.
Sacramento drinking water is safe from coronavirus. For more information about this issue and Sacramento’s water treatment process, visit our FAQs.
City waives penalties from delinquent utility charges and protects against the discontinuance of City-provided utilities. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Sacramento City Council on March 17 unanimously adopted a resolution that temporarily waives penalties from delinquent utility charges and protects against the discontinuance of City-provided utilities (water, solid waste, wastewater and drainage) despite non-payment.
“This will help ensure that all households have the critical services they need during the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Department of Utilities Director Bill Busath.
The Department of Utilities is installing a large-diameter pipeline to upgrade a portion of its sewer system that will eventually connect the Railyards, a 244-acre infill development on the northeast corner of downtown Sacramento, to the City’s existing sewer system. Find out more about the 3rd Street Sewer Upgrade Project.
McKinley Water Vault BUILD Phase Begins
The McKinley Water Vault is an underground storage tank that will hold combined storm water and wastewater during big storms when the combined sewer system is at capacity. The first phase, DIG phase, of the project is complete and the BUILD phase is underway. The BUILD phase is scheduled to take place Fall 2019 to Fall 2020. Read for more on the McKinley Water Vault project phases and future enhancements.
The City strives to meet Public Health Goals, which are set by the State of California to encourage drinking water providers to do the best they can to provide safe, high-quality drinking water. We actively work toward these goals and report progress to the City Council and the public every three years. Here is the latest Public Health Goals report.