Fargo – North Dakota – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your city
The City of Fargo provides comprehensive water services to approximately 120,000 residents across the greater Fargo metropolitan area, including serving West Fargo and several surrounding communities through its advanced water treatment infrastructure. Established as a municipal utility in 1890, the system includes over 500 miles of water distribution lines, state-of-the-art treatment facilities, and pumping stations that deliver an average of 12 million gallons of drinking water daily to North Dakota’s largest city and surrounding areas.
Fargo sources its drinking water primarily from the Red River of the North, with the Sheyenne River and Lake Ashtabula serving as backup sources for supply redundancy and drought protection. Water from both rivers is treated at two cutting-edge facilities: the main Water Treatment Plant with a 30 million gallon per day capacity and the award-winning Membrane Water Treatment Plant with a 15 million gallon per day capacity, commissioned in 2018. Fargo’s water consistently meets all federal and state quality standards and has won recognition as the best-tasting drinking water in North Dakota in 2022 and 2023, though the utility faces ongoing challenges with emerging contaminants, infrastructure modernization, and protecting water sources from agricultural runoff in the Red River Valley.
Fargo Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
Latest Testing Results
- Lead and Copper Monitoring: Fargo Water continues to maintain full compliance with EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) that went into effect in October 2024, with recent testing showing levels well below federal action thresholds.
- Compliance Status: For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (April 2024 – June 2024), tap water provided by Fargo’s water utility was in compliance with all federal and state drinking water standards.
- Water Quality Recognition: Fargo’s Membrane Water Treatment Plant won the prestigious Membrane Facility of the Year Award in March 2024, and the city has been voted best-tasting drinking water in North Dakota for 2022 and 2023.
Water Sources
- Red River of the North: Primary source with senior water rights allowing use of up to 100 million gallons per day, though current average demand is only 12 million gallons per day.
- Sheyenne River: Secondary source providing up to 16 million gallons per day for supply redundancy and cost reduction, with a dedicated 9-mile pipeline connecting to the treatment plant.
- Lake Ashtabula: Emergency backup source owned 52% by Fargo, providing approximately a 2-year water supply during severe drought conditions, historically used during dry years of 1976, 1984, and 1988.
Advanced Treatment Technology
- Main Water Treatment Plant: A 30 million gallon per day facility expandable to 45 MGD, utilizing conventional treatment processes including pretreatment, two-stage lime softening, ozonation, dual media filtration, and chloramination.
- Membrane Water Treatment Plant: Award-winning 15 million gallon per day facility commissioned in 2018, featuring cutting-edge ultrafiltration membranes, reverse osmosis membranes, continuous monitoring technology, and optimized chemical usage for treating challenging source waters.
- Water Softening Focus: Both treatment facilities center around softening the naturally hard water from the Red River and Sheyenne River, delivering consistently soft and good-tasting drinking water to residents.
Infrastructure Development
- Regional Collaboration: Fargo serves as the water supplier for West Fargo and other surrounding communities, with ongoing infrastructure expansions to accommodate regional growth and service area expansion.
- Pump Station Upgrades: Recent modernization of the Red River Pump Station to increase capacity and fully utilize the expanded 45 million gallon per day treatment plant capacity for current and future demands.
- Future Water Supply Planning: Active participation in the Red River Valley Water Supply Project to bring Missouri River water to the region, providing long-term drought protection and supply security for rapid community growth.
Water Quality Assurance
Fargo Water operates under extensive federal oversight through the Safe Drinking Water Act and maintains comprehensive testing programs to ensure water quality throughout the distribution system. The utility’s treatment processes are specifically designed to address the challenging characteristics of Red River source water, including natural hardness and seasonal variations. Fargo’s commitment to water quality excellence is demonstrated through its award-winning membrane technology, transparent reporting through annual water quality reports, and its recognition for exceptional taste. The city continues to monitor emerging contaminants and invest in advanced treatment technologies to maintain the highest standards for safe, reliable drinking water while preparing for future challenges including population growth, climate variability, and evolving water quality regulations.
Recommendations for Fargo Residents
Monitor Lead Service Lines
Contact Fargo Water Treatment at 701-241-1324 if you receive notification about potential lead service lines. The utility conducts mandatory testing under the new Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and provides corrosion control treatment to prevent lead leaching.
Follow Seasonal Watering Guidelines
Participate in Fargo’s promoted odd/even watering restrictions from Memorial Day to Labor Day based on your house address. While not enforced, these guidelines help conserve water during peak summer demand periods.
Consider Water Filtration
While Fargo’s water meets all standards and wins taste awards, homes concerned about disinfection byproducts or emerging contaminants may benefit from NSF-certified filters designed for treated municipal water systems.
Stay Informed About Drought Plans
Monitor Fargo’s Drought and Water Service Management Plan phases, which range from Normal Conditions to Emergency phases with corresponding water use restrictions. Visit fargond.gov for current drought status and water use guidelines.
Report Water Issues
Contact Fargo Utility Billing at 701-241-1324 for water service issues, billing questions, or quality concerns. For water emergencies including broken mains or service disruptions, the same number provides 24/7 emergency response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fargo’s tap water safe to drink?
Yes, Fargo’s tap water meets all federal and state drinking water standards and has won recognition as the best-tasting drinking water in North Dakota for 2022 and 2023. The city operates two state-of-the-art treatment facilities that process water from the Red River and Sheyenne River.
Fargo’s water treatment system incorporates multiple barrier approaches including conventional treatment at the main plant and advanced membrane technology at the award-winning Membrane Water Treatment Plant. The utility maintains compliance with all EPA regulations and conducts extensive testing throughout the distribution system. Water quality is consistently monitored and reported through annual water quality reports available to all customers at fargond.gov.
Why is Fargo’s water so soft?
Fargo’s water treatment process specifically focuses on softening the naturally hard water from the Red River of the North:
1. Source water characteristics: Red River water is naturally hard due to mineral content from the surrounding geology
2. Two-stage lime softening: The main treatment plant uses an advanced two-stage lime softening process to remove hardness-causing minerals
3. Membrane technology: The newer Membrane Water Treatment Plant uses reverse osmosis membranes that also remove hardness along with other contaminants
This comprehensive softening approach results in consistently soft water that is gentler on plumbing, appliances, and skin, while also improving taste – contributing to Fargo’s recognition for exceptional water quality and taste in North Dakota.
Are there lead service lines in Fargo?
Under the new EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) that took effect in October 2024, Fargo Water is actively identifying and monitoring potential lead service lines:
• Active identification: The utility is mailing notifications to residents and property owners who may have lead service lines or potential lead service lines based on historical records and inspections
• Corrosion control: Fargo’s water treatment includes carefully calibrated chemistry to prevent corrosion of lead-containing pipes and fixtures that could result in lead entering drinking water
• Ongoing monitoring: The 90th percentile rule requires that 90% of sampled homes have lead levels below 15 parts per billion, with Fargo maintaining compliance with these strict standards
• Treatment effectiveness: Water leaving Fargo’s treatment plants contains no lead contamination, with treatment processes designed to prevent lead pickup in the distribution system
Does Fargo have water use restrictions?
Fargo operates under a comprehensive Drought and Water Service Management Plan with different phases:
Normal Conditions (Current Status):
• Promoted (but not enforced) seasonal odd/even watering restrictions from Memorial Day to Labor Day
• Odd-numbered addresses water on odd days, even-numbered addresses on even days
• No mandatory restrictions when water supply is adequate
Drought Response Phases:
• Advisory Phase: Early indication of drought conditions with voluntary conservation measures
• Emergency Phases: More restrictive mandatory measures during severe water shortages
Current status and any active restrictions are available at fargond.gov or by calling 701-241-1324.
Quality News About Your Water
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Contaminants of Concern
Disinfection Byproducts
Source: Formed when disinfectants such as chlorine or ozone react with naturally occurring organic matter in Red River and Sheyenne River source waters; includes trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids
Health Effects: Long-term exposure to elevated levels may increase risk of certain cancers and potentially affect liver, kidney, and reproductive health; some byproducts linked to pregnancy complications
Current Status: Detected at levels that exceed EWG health guidelines but remain below EPA maximum contaminant levels; Fargo’s advanced treatment processes including ozonation and membrane technology help minimize formation EPA Limits: 80 ppb for TTHMs and 60 ppb for HAA5
PFAS Compounds
Source: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from firefighting foam contamination at nearby Hector International Airport Air National Guard base, industrial sources, and agricultural runoff in the Red River watershed
Health Effects: Research suggests potential links to cancer, thyroid disease, weakened immunity, liver problems, and reproductive issues; called “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and human body
Current Status: A 2018 North Dakota study detected PFAS in Fargo’s drinking water at concentrations so low they could not be quantified, well below EPA health advisory levels of 70 parts per trillion EPA Status: New federal PFAS regulations were finalized in 2024; no North Dakota water systems are expected to be out of compliance
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