What was found in Bismarck's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 758 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 808 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH · 10,400 people · 2016 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 136 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 602.2 µg/L — DAKOTA ADVENTIST ACADEMY · 80 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 320 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 464 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH · 10,400 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 15.32 µg/L 102% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 294.98 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT · 3,700 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 80 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH · 10,400 people · 2015 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 40.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 79.4 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT · 3,700 people · 2023 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 72.6885 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 66 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2015 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 52.885 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 21.079 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 44.335 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT · 3,700 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30.9 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT · 3,700 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 19.59 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 18.306 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.33 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.804 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH · 10,400 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 7.595 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.408 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.197 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT · 3,700 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 3.65 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH · 10,400 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.958 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.7 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH · 10,400 people · 2016 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.43 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.0950 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1.84 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH · 10,400 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.7045 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.467 µg/L — SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT · 3,700 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.23 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.1 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.074 pCi/L 21% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 0.4370 pCi/L 2.9% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1.04 pCi/L — SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH · 10,400 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 0.0300 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT · 3,700 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0028 mg/L 19% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BISMARCK CITY OF · 72,417 people · 2024 | 5/5 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Bismarck
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BISMARCK CITY OF | 72,417 |
| SOUTH CENTRAL RWD NORTH BURLEIGH | 10,400 |
| SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT | 3,700 |
| IMPERIAL VALLEY WATER CO | 345 |
| DAKOTA ADVENTIST ACADEMY | 80 |
Frequently asked questions about Bismarck tap water
Is Bismarck tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 30 contaminants in the water serving Bismarck. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Bismarck?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bismarck, North Dakota to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bismarck's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bismarck include Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, Lead, Nitrate. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.