Bismarck
Bismarck, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
bismarck city of
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID ND0800080
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 71,167 residents, Bismarck ranks as the 2nd-largest city in North Dakota and a small but growing city. Water in Bismarck is sourced chiefly from Missouri River and aquifers, the backbone of North Dakota's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: agricultural demand. Energy development and irrigation drive demand; the Missouri River is the anchor supply.
Statewide, North Dakota recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Bismarck faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The North Dakota state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Bismarck's water future.
Burleigh County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~71,167 (2nd-largest in North Dakota)
- Primary sources: Missouri River and aquifers
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of North Dakota in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Bismarck?
Bismarck's largest water system, BISMARCK CITY OF, serves about 72,417 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 2.8 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Bismarck get its water?
BISMARCK CITY OF draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of North Dakota's supply from Missouri River, aquifers.
Related water issues
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