Grand Forks, ND Water Quality Report

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

Quick Answers

Is Grand Forks tap water safe to drink? Grand Forks tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 7.64 ppt across 2 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Grand Forks water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Grand Forks water: lithium (21.3 ppt), PFBA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Grand Forks? 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.

Grand Forks Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Grand Forks drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 21.3 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 7.64 ppt across 2 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • lithium: 21.3 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Grand Forks Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 14 lead samples for Grand Forks water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.00891 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.

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 Grand Forks: approximately 56,065.

ZIP Codes Served

58201, 58202, 58203, 58205, 58206

What Grand Forks 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