North Dakota Water Quality — 103 Cities Tested

Analysis

North Dakota water quality overview

North Dakota's drinking water quality is excellent overall, with an average score of 85.4 out of 100 across 103 cities tested. The median score is 87, serving a total population of 722,304 residents. 95% of cities earned an A or B grade, indicating broadly strong water quality infrastructure across the state. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 23 of 103 cities tested (22%). All detected levels remain within current EPA limits. 2 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, often indicating aging infrastructure with lead service lines or lead solder. The state relies on a mix of water sources: 64 cities use groundwater while 37 draw from surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Key Concerns

Issues to watch in North Dakota

23 cities

PFAS Detected

22% of tested cities have PFAS in their water supply.

2 cities

Lead Exceedances

Lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 ppb (90th percentile).

71 cities

Health Violations

2,026 total violations recorded, 92 with unresolved issues.

Contaminant Data

Explore contaminants in North Dakota

Lead in North Dakota → Ranked by 90th percentile level (ppb) PFAS in North Dakota → Ranked by compounds detected Copper in North Dakota → Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)

More contaminants tested in North Dakota

HAA5 → Chromium-6 → Arsenic → Nitrate → Strontium → Manganese → Vanadium → Chlorate → Molybdenum → Lithium → NDMA →

State context

96.5%

of North Dakota residents on fluoridated water

CDC, 2020

184,282

lbs released to surface water

Top 10 TRI facilities, 2023

44.7%

of North Dakota domestic wells exceed EPA arsenic limit

USGS, 1,229 samples · 10 µg/L MCL

Domestic well chemistry

Private-well water in North Dakota

Based on USGS Powell Domestic-Well Database — 5,400 private wells sampled across North Dakota. These wells are not regulated by the EPA; if you draw your tap from a private well, the public-system grade above does not apply to you.

8.7 µg/L

Median arsenic in domestic wells

P90 33.3 µg/L · max 973.0 µg/L

414 µg/L

Median manganese in domestic wells

60.0% exceed 300 µg/L aesthetic limit

Industrial pollution

Top industrial water polluters in North Dakota

Industrial polluters nearby

The 10 facilities reporting the most pounds released to surface water in North Dakota, 2023.

Total reported releases to surface water: 184,282 lbs

Facility	Top chemical	To surface water (lbs/yr)
CARGILL INC WET CORN MILLING - WAHPETON Food · CARGILL INC WAHPETON, ND58075	Hydrogen sulfide	78,862
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE Food · NA WAHPETON, ND580759698	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	57,727
GREAT RIVER ENERGY - SPIRITWOOD STATION Electric Utilities · GREAT RIVER ENERGY SPIRITWOOD, ND58481	Barium And Barium Compounds	19,016
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR CO Food · AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR CO HILLSBORO, ND58045	Ammonia	12,506
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR CO Food · AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR CO DRAYTON, ND58225	Ammonia	8,987

+ 5 more facilities

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Test your own tap

Get your North Dakota water tested

City-level data shows the source and infrastructure picture — but lead and other home-plumbing issues only show up at your tap. Find a state-certified lab, see what to test for, and what it costs.

Grade Distribution

How North Dakota cities scored

A: 69 B: 29 C: 2 D: 3 F: 0

Best Cities

Worst Cities

City Map

Water quality across North Dakota

Each dot is a city, colored by its water quality grade. Size reflects population served. Click any city to view its full water report.

All Cities

103 cities in North Dakota

Full rankings →

#	City	Grade	Score	Population	Violations
1	Minto	A+	97	604	0
2	Enderlin	A+	96.4	911	6
3	Surrey	A+	95.4	1K	5
4	Beulah	A	95	3K	5
5	Wishek	A	94.5	952	6
6	Thompson	A	94.4	6K	3
7	Mayville	A	94.2	2K	8
8	Mohall	A	94.2	783	6
9	Steele	A	94.2	715	5
10	Cavalier	A	94.1	5K	8
11	Mott	A	93.3	721	6
12	Oakes	A	93.1	2K	9
13	Walhalla	A	93.1	996	13
14	Dickinson	A	93	39K	14
15	New Rockford	A	92.8	1K	7
16	Lidgerwood	A	92.7	652	9
17	Beach	A	92.5	981	9
18	Pembina	A	92.3	592	14
19	West Fargo	A	92.2	35K	1
20	Valley City	A	92.2	12K	7
21	Burlington	A	92.2	1K	20
22	New Salem	A	92	946	0
23	Glen Ullin	A	91.9	807	4
24	Langdon	A	91.6	4K	18
25	Cooperstown	A	91.6	984	4
26	Fargo	A	91.5	121K	9
27	Elgin	A	91.5	642	6
28	Grand Forks	A	91.3	57K	9
29	Trenton	A	91	840	16
30	Hebron	A	90.7	747	11
31	Ellendale	A	90.6	1K	5
32	Tioga	A	90.4	3K	7
33	Hettinger	A	90.3	1K	5
34	Washburn	A	90	1K	30
35	Parshall	A-	89.9	903	13
36	Park River	A-	89.7	1K	2
37	Mapleton	A-	89.7	1K	2
38	Hatton	A-	89.2	777	7
39	Turtle Lake	A-	88.9	3K	14
40	Devils Lake	A-	88.7	13K	12
41	Napoleon	A-	88.7	792	3
42	Garrison	A-	88.6	3K	14
43	Larimore	A-	88.6	1K	3
44	Hillsboro	A-	88.5	4K	9
45	Northwood	A-	88.1	945	10
46	Rolla	A-	87.9	1K	7
47	Ray	A-	87.8	2K	7
48	Gilby	A-	87.6	3K	3
49	Kindred	A-	87.2	12K	5
50	Lincoln	A-	87.2	4K	5
51	Wahpeton	A-	87	12K	4
52	Sharon	A-	87	1K	7
53	Forman	A-	87	504	8
54	Rugby	A-	86.9	3K	4
55	Casselton	A-	86.9	3K	3
56	Lisbon	A-	86.7	4K	3
57	Gwinner	A-	86.7	753	1
58	St. Michael	A-	86.5	4K	39
59	Linton	A-	86.4	1K	3
60	La Moure	A-	86.3	889	3
61	Fessenden	A-	86	4K	9
62	Stanley	A-	86	1K	10
63	Bowman	A-	85.9	1K	3
64	Underwood	A-	85.9	778	7
65	Bismarck	A-	85.7	91K	33
66	Harvey	A-	85.7	2K	2
67	Crosby	A-	85.7	1K	1
68	Drayton	A-	85.7	824	14
69	Ashley	A-	85.2	749	3
70	Finley	B+	84.6	2K	4
71	Alexander	B+	84.4	1K	5
72	Belfield	B+	83.6	1K	3
73	Portland	B+	83.6	606	4
74	Minot	B+	83.2	60K	24
75	Center	B+	83.2	588	6
76	Grafton	B+	82.5	7K	4
77	Bottineau	B+	82.3	6K	9
78	Dunseith	B+	81.9	773	14
79	Kenmare	B+	81.7	2K	36
80	Fullerton	B+	81.7	1K	32
81	Richardton	B+	81.7	529	1
82	Velva	B+	81.3	1K	12
83	Carrington	B+	81	2K	3
84	Harwood	B+	80.3	718	17
85	New England	B+	80.3	600	2
86	Jamestown	B+	80.2	21K	6
87	Hazen	B	79.6	2K	2
88	Killdeer	B	79.6	939	3
89	Edgeley	B	79.6	658	101
90	Mandan	B	78.7	27K	48
91	Milnor	B	78.2	763	27
92	Fort Yates	B	77.5	7K	53
93	Cando	B	76.9	1K	8
94	Strasburg	B	76.9	814	21
95	Abercrombie	B	76.5	4K	46
96	Wilton	B	75.9	711	6
97	Lakota	B-	73.9	3K	11
98	Williston	B-	71	32K	50
99	Watford City	C+	66.3	10K	44
100	Belcourt	C-	55.5	14K	78
101	Horace	D+	54.5	2K	126
102	Hankinson	D	48	3K	312
103	New Town	D	45.3	9K	350

Counties

Browse North Dakota counties

Adams 1 city · avg 90.3 Barnes 1 city · avg 92.2 Bottineau 1 city · avg 82.3 Bowman 1 city · avg 85.9 Burleigh 3 cities · avg 82.9 Cass 7 cities · avg 83.2 Cavalier 1 city · avg 91.6 Dickey 3 cities · avg 88.5 Divide 1 city · avg 85.7 Dunn 1 city · avg 79.6 Eddy 1 city · avg 92.8 Emmons 2 cities · avg 81.7 Foster 1 city · avg 81 Golden Valley 1 city · avg 92.5 Grand Forks 5 cities · avg 90 Grant 1 city · avg 91.5 Griggs 3 cities · avg 87.7 Hettinger 2 cities · avg 86.8 Kidder 1 city · avg 94.2 Lamoure 2 cities · avg 82.9 Logan 1 city · avg 88.7 Mchenry 1 city · avg 81.3 Mcintosh 2 cities · avg 89.8 Mckenzie 2 cities · avg 75.3 Mclean 4 cities · avg 88.3 Mercer 2 cities · avg 87.3 Morton 4 cities · avg 88.3 Mountrail 1 city · avg 86 Nelson 1 city · avg 73.9 Oliver 1 city · avg 83.2 Pembina 4 cities · avg 91.3 Pierce 1 city · avg 86.9 Ramsey 1 city · avg 88.7 Ransom 2 cities · avg 91.6 Renville 1 city · avg 94.2 Richland 4 cities · avg 76 Rolette 2 cities · avg 84.9 Sargent 3 cities · avg 84 Stark 3 cities · avg 86.1 Stutsman 1 city · avg 80.2 Towner 1 city · avg 76.9 Traill 4 cities · avg 88.9 Walsh 3 cities · avg 89.7 Ward 4 cities · avg 88.1 Wells 2 cities · avg 85.8 Williams 4 cities · avg 85

ZIP Codes

Browse North Dakota by ZIP code

Look up water quality by ZIP code to find the systems serving your area.

View all North Dakota ZIP codes →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about North Dakota's water

Is North Dakota's tap water safe to drink?

North Dakota's water quality varies by city. The statewide average grade is A- (85.4/100). 95% of cities scored an A or B, while 3% received a D or F. Check your specific city for detailed results.

Which North Dakota cities have the best water quality?

The top-rated cities are Minto (A+), Enderlin (A+), Surrey (A+). These cities scored highest based on violation history, lead levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Which North Dakota cities have the worst water quality?

The lowest-rated cities are New Town (D), Hankinson (D), Horace (D+). We recommend residents in these areas consider water filtration and review their city's specific contaminant data.

How many North Dakota cities have PFAS in their water?

23 out of 103 cities tested positive for PFAS "forever chemicals" (22%). All detected levels are currently within EPA limits.

Do any North Dakota cities have dangerous lead levels?

2 cities exceed the EPA lead action level of 15 ppb. Lead contamination typically comes from aging pipes and lead service lines rather than the water source itself. An NSF 53-certified filter can effectively remove lead from tap water.

North Dakota Water Quality Report