Bismarck, ND Water Quality Report

Is Bismarck tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Bismarck, North Dakota. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Bismarck tap water safe to drink? Bismarck water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 79.4 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Bismarck water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Bismarck water: lithium (79.4 ppt), PFBA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Bismarck? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Bismarck Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Bismarck drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 79.4 ppt across 4 water systems, representing an average of 36.79 ppt across 2 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • lithium: 79.4 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Bismarck Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 18 lead samples for Bismarck water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0138 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Bismarck

Bismarck public water systems have 2 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Total Organic Carbon, Lead & Copper Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Bismarck: approximately 73,622.

ZIP Codes Served

58501, 58502, 58503, 58504, 58505

What Bismarck Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually