North Dakota Water Quality Report 2026
North Dakota tap water is safe — softener may help based on our analysis of 4 water systems serving 304,840 residents. The average PurityMap score is 76.5/100 (Grade: C), which is 1.4 points below the national average.
- 4 cities (100%) have hard or very hard water (7+ GPG) which causes scale buildup and appliance damage.
- 1 cities exceed the EPA secondary TDS guideline of 500 ppm, which affects taste and may indicate elevated minerals.
- 4 cities use chloramine or have elevated chlorine residuals. Standard Brita pitchers do not remove chloramine.
A water softener is the most impactful investment for North Dakota residents in hard water areas. A basic carbon pitcher or faucet filter removes chlorine and improves taste.
Very Hard
North Dakota is 1.4 points below the US average of 77.9/100. Hardness is 5.3 GPG above the US average of 6.3 GPG.
Cities ranked by lowest score. Click any city for the full report and filter recommendations.
| Rank | City | Score | Hardness | Lead | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo | 75/100 | 12.5 GPG | 2.5 ppb | Very Hard (12.5 GPG) |
| 2 | Minot | 75/100 | 14.5 GPG | 2.0 ppb | Very Hard (14.5 GPG), TDS (500 ppm) |
| 3 | Bismarck | 78/100 | 8.8 GPG | 2.0 ppb | Hard (8.8 GPG) |
| 4 | Grand Forks | 78/100 | 10.5 GPG | 2.2 ppb | Very Hard (10.5 GPG) |
How North Dakota's 4 cities score on the PurityMap 0–100 scale:
Water quality for the most populated cities. Click any city for details.
| City | Population | Score | Hardness | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 126K | 75/100 | 12.5 GPG | Very Hard |
| Bismarck | 74K | 78/100 | 8.8 GPG | Hard |
| Grand Forks | 57K | 78/100 | 10.5 GPG | Very Hard |
| Minot | 49K | 75/100 | 14.5 GPG | Very Hard |
4 of 4 cities (100%) in North Dakota have hard or very hard water (7+ GPG). Minot has the hardest at 14.5 GPG. Cities: Minot, Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck. A water softener is recommended.
Based on EPA UCMR5 data, PFAS have not been detected above advisory levels in any North Dakota cities in our database as of 2026.
All North Dakota cities have lead below 5 ppb. Average: 2.2 ppb. Individual homes with older plumbing may have higher levels.
1 cities in North Dakota have TDS above 500 ppm. Cities: Minot. RO effectively reduces TDS.
Where North Dakota gets its drinking water, based on 4 water systems.
| Source Type | Cities | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed (Ground + Surface) | 2 | 50% |
| Surface Water | 2 | 50% |
North Dakota is a hard water state (4/4 cities). A whole-house softener is the best investment.
| # | City | Pop. | Score | Hardness | Lead | PFAS | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo | 126K | 75/100 | 12.5 GPG (Very Hard) | 2.5 ppb | ✅ No | 430 ppm |
| 2 | Minot | 49K | 75/100 | 14.5 GPG (Very Hard) | 2.0 ppb | ✅ No | 500 ppm |
| 3 | Bismarck | 74K | 78/100 | 8.8 GPG (Hard) | 2.0 ppb | ✅ No | 310 ppm |
| 4 | Grand Forks | 57K | 78/100 | 10.5 GPG (Hard) | 2.2 ppb | ✅ No | 370 ppm |
North Dakota has 4 utilities. Major: Fargo Public Works, Bismarck Public Works, Grand Forks Water Treatment, City of Minot Public Works.
Sources: Red River and Missouri River Aquifer, Missouri River, Red Lake River, Souris River and groundwater.
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System
- EWG Tap Water Database
- State utility Consumer Confidence Reports
- USGS regional water monitoring data
PurityMap compiles publicly available data and does not perform independent testing.
4 city water quality reports available for North Dakota.
Fargo Water Quality Report
Grand Forks Water Quality Report
Minot Water Quality Report
Compare water quality reports across all 50 US states