Grand Forks
Grand Forks, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
grand forks regional wtp
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID ND1800410
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Grand Forks, ND is a small but growing city, with a population near 57,011 and the 3rd-largest community in North Dakota. Like much of North Dakota, Grand Forks draws its water primarily from Missouri River and aquifers.
Grand Forks's water outlook is shaped most by agricultural demand — the issue that dominates planning across North Dakota. Energy development and irrigation drive demand; the Missouri River is the anchor supply.
Grand Forks sits in a state that reuses roughly 3% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences abnormally dry to moderate drought.
For the bigger picture, see the North Dakota state water profile and the related issues below.
Grand Forks County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~57,011 (3rd-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 Grand Forks?
Grand Forks's largest water system, GRAND FORKS REGIONAL WTP, serves about 57,339 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 8.9 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Grand Forks get its water?
GRAND FORKS REGIONAL WTP 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