North Dakota
North Dakota sits in the Midwest and draws its water primarily from Missouri River and aquifers. With roughly 0.78 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater.
North Dakotawater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in North Dakota
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| TTHM | 12 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 9 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 8 |
| Arsenic | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 3 |
| Chloramine | 3 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Energy development and irrigation drive demand; the Missouri River is the anchor supply.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, North Dakota currently tracks around abnormally dry to moderate conditions. North Dakota has 318 community water systems serving about 1 million people; EPA records show 37 of them (11.6%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of North Dakota in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 118 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 1.4 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 13.5%
- Irrigation share
- 16.7%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~3%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Missouri River
- ≈ aquifers
Common questions
Is tap water safe in North Dakota?
North Dakota has 318 community water systems serving about 1 million people. EPA records show 37 of them (11.6%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 4 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in North Dakota's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve TTHM, Revised Total Coliform Rule, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS.
How much water does North Dakota use per person?
Public water systems in North Dakota withdraw about 118 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 13.5% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in North Dakota?
As of 2026-06-09, 7.7% of North Dakota is in drought (D1+) and 0.3% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in North Dakota
6 trackedFargo
Fargo, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Bismarck
Bismarck, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Grand Forks
Grand Forks, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Minot
Minot, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
West Fargo
West Fargo, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Williston
Williston, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in North Dakota
Agricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
Explore