West Fargo
West Fargo, ND water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
west fargo city of
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID ND0900999
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
West Fargo, ND is a small but growing city, with a population near 33,597 and the 5th-largest community in North Dakota. Like much of North Dakota, West Fargo draws its water primarily from Missouri River and aquifers.
West Fargo'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.
West Fargo 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.
Cass County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~33,597 (5th-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 West Fargo?
West Fargo's largest water system, WEST FARGO CITY OF, serves about 34,858 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does West Fargo get its water?
WEST FARGO 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