Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Fargo?
Yes, Fargo's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Fargo has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Fargo's water utility, City of Fargo, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Fargo was resolved on March 31, 2018. This assessment is based on the City of Fargo water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Fargo Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Fargo tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Fargo's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Fargo Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Fargo for Fargo in North Dakota. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Jan. 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, Fargo had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Bromate.
From Oct. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017, Fargo had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Bromate.
Is there Lead in Fargo Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Fargo water system, City of Fargo, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.00243 mg/L of lead in Fargo water. This is 16.2% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Fargo contained more lead.
While Fargo water testing may have found 0.00243 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Fargo Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Fargo AASF #2 - near Fargo with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Fargo has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Fargo SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2018 - 03/31/2018 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) | Bromate (1011) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) |
| 10/01/2017 - 12/31/2017 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) | Bromate (1011) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Fargo Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | 435 14TH AVE SOUTH FARGO, ND, 58103 |
Existing customers can login to their City of Fargo account to pay their Fargo water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your City of Fargo bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Fargo water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Fargo water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Fargo means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Fargo. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Fargo means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Fargo. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.66 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Fargo, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Fargo Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Fargo's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
City of Fargo 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT | Page 1
Troy B. Hall
Water Utility Director
Daniel L. Portlock
Water Utility Engineer
Brian A. Ward
WTP Superintendent
2020
WATER QUALITY REPORT
The City of Fargo Water Treatment Plant is issuing this report to inform customers about the quality of water produced and distributed in 2020.
If you are a
If you have questions about Fargo drinking water, or if you are aware of non- English speaking individuals who need help with the appropriate language translation, please contact the Water Treatment Plant at
If you would like opportunities for public participation in decisions that affect water quality, please attend City Commission meetings, which are held every other Monday at 5 p.m. Please visit the City of Fargo website for exact meeting dates.
City of Fargo 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT | Page 2
AESTHETIC WATER QUALITY AVERAGES FOR 2020
Total Hardness 132 (ppm) or 7.72 grains/gallon Total Dissolved Solids 360 (ppm)
Iron Less than 0.02 (ppm) Manganese Less than 0.02 (ppm)
pH 9.33
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves
In order to insure tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking water Hotline
Before the City of Fargo delivers water to your home it is thoroughly tested. All regulatory testing is performed in certified laboratories. In addition, the Fargo Water Treatment Plant is staffed with Certified Operators and Environmental Laboratory Technicians who are monitoring and testing your water to insure that drinking water standards enforced by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) are maintained.
The Fargo water treatment plant complies with the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act by routinely testing for contaminants. The contaminants detected and values are listed in the Monitoring Results Tables. Certain contaminants require testing less than once per year. The concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. This data, while still representative of the water quality, is more than a year old and is also listed in the Monitoring Tables. In 2020, there were no contaminants that exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), which is the highest level of a substance allowed in drinking water as set forth by the EPA.
City of Fargo 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT | Page 3
Contaminants that may be present in source water:
Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally- occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and Herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
Organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are
Radioactive Contaminants, which can be
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.
Lead and Copper
The (MCL) for lead and copper is known as the Action Level (AL). This is the concentration which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements a water system must follow. Ninety percent of all samples tested must be below this concentration. During 2020, no sample site in the City of Fargo water distribution system tested above the (AL) for lead and copper.
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Fargo Water Treatment Plant is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. Use water from the cold tap for drinking and cooking. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for
30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
City of Fargo 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT | Page 4
KEY TO THE TABLES
(MCLG) Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.
(MCL) Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
(MRDLG) Maximum Residual Disinfection Level Goal: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
(MRDL) Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition
of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Highest Compliance Level: The highest level of contaminant used to determine compliance with a National Primacy Drinking Water Regulation.
Range of Detections: The lowest to the highest result value recorded during the required monitoring timeframe for systems with multiple entry points.
ABBREVIATIONS:
ppb - parts per billion ppm - parts per million
pCi/L - picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)
umho/cm - micromhos per centimeter (unit of measurement for conductivity)
AL – Action Level
N/A – Not Applicable
ND - Not Detected
NTU – Nephelometric Turbidity Units
- – Treatment Technique
TOC – Total Organic Carbon
WTP – Water Treatment Plant
LSWTP – Lime Softening Water Treatment Plant MWTP – Membrane Water Treatment Plant MGD – Million Gallons Per day
TURBIDITY is a measure of water clarity monitored at the City of Fargo Water Treatment Plant. Certain treatment techniques (TT) are required to reduce the level in the drinking water. Regulations require turbidity to be < 0.15 NTU at the effluent of the Fargo Membrane Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) and < 0.30 NTU at the effluent of the Fargo Lime Softening Water Treatment Plant (LSWTP) 95% of the time and < 1.0 NTU 100% of the time. Turbidity has no health effects, but can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of
City of Fargo 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT | Page 5
MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS
|
Turbidity |
(TT) |
|
|
|
|
(MWTP) < 0.15 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(NTU) (95%) |
|
Level Detected |
Range |
|
||||
|
|
Treatment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
< 1.0 (NTU) (100%) |
|
|
|
|
(NTU) |
(NTU) |
|
|||||
|
|
Technique |
|
(LSWTP) < 0.3 |
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(NTU) (95%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(MWTP) Effluent |
Ultra Filtration; |
100% of samples |
|
100 % of samples |
|
0.139 |
0.012 to 0.139 |
|
|||||
|
|
Reverse Osmosis; |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/21/2020 |
|
|
||
|
|
Disinfection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(LSWTP) |
Filtration; |
100% of samples |
|
100 % of samples |
|
0.125 |
0.021 to 0.125 |
|
|||||
|
Effluent |
Disinfection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8/17/2020 |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LEAD AND COPPER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Substance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
90th |
Sites Exceeding |
|
|
|
||
|
(monitored at tap) |
AL |
|
MCLG |
|
|
|
Major Source of Contaminant |
|
|||||
|
(units) test date |
|
|
|
|
Percentile |
|
AL |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copper (ppm) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corrosion of household |
|
|
|
6/19/2020 |
1.3 |
|
1.3 |
|
|
0.046 |
0 of 102 sites |
plumbing systems |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
Lead (ppb) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corrosion of household |
|
|
|
6/19/2020 |
15 |
|
0 |
|
|
2.88 |
0 of 102 sites |
plumbing systems |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Substance (monitored at tap) (units) test date
MCL
MCLG
Highest Compliance
Level
Major Source of Contaminant
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
Barium (ppm) |
|
|
|
|
Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge |
|
4/17/2018 |
|
2 |
2 |
0.0376 |
from metal refineries; Erosion of Natural |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fluoride (ppm) |
|
|
|
|
Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive |
|
4/17/2018 |
|
4 |
4 |
0.625 |
which promotes strong teeth; Discharge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nitrate - Nitrite |
(ppm) |
|
|
|
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from |
|
5/11/2020 |
|
10 |
10 |
0.125 |
septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural |
|
|
|
|
|
|
deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
Gross Alpha, Including |
|
|
|
|
||
RA, Excluding RN & U |
15 |
15 |
2.44 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
||
(pCi/l) 7/17/2018 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radium, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Combined (226, 228) |
5 |
N/A |
0.166 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
||
(pCi/l) |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
7/17/2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
City of Fargo 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT | Page 6
Substance (monitored at tap) (units) test date
MCL
MCLG
Highest
Compliance
Level
Range
Major Source of Contaminant
DISINFECTANTS
Chloramine (ppm) 10/31/2020
4
4
3.1
2.71 to 3.12
Water additive used to control microbes
UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS
|
|
|
|
|
Naturally present when water |
|
Alkalinity, Carbonate |
|
|
|
|
passes through rock and soil |
|
(ppm) 12/22/2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
44 |
ND - 44 |
which contains carbonate, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
bicarbonate, and hydroxide |
|
|
|
|
|
|
compounds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Naturally present when water |
|
Bicarbonate as HCO3 |
|
|
|
|
passes through rock and soil |
|
N/A |
N/A |
469 |
20 - 469 |
which contains carbonate, |
||
(ppm) 12/22/2020 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
bicarbonate, and hydroxide |
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
compounds |
|
Bromide |
|
|
|
|
Discharge from oil and gas |
|
|
|
|
|
production and |
||
(ppm) 12/15/2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
270 |
17 - 270 |
||
electric power plants Erosion of |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Naturally present when water |
|
Calcium |
|
|
|
|
passes through rock and soil. It |
|
|
|
|
|
may dissolve from rocks such |
||
(ppm) 12/22/2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
59.7 |
ND - 59.7 |
||
as limestone, marble, calcite, |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
dolomite, gypsum, fluorite and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
apatite |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductive ions from dissolved |
|
Conductivity @ 25 C |
|
|
|
|
salts and inorganic materials such |
|
(umho/cm) 12/22/2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
983 |
345 - 983 |
as alkalis, chlorides, sulfides and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
carbonate compounds naturally |
|
|
|
|
|
|
present in water |
|
Hydroxide as CACO3 |
|
|
|
|
The hydroxide ion is a natural part |
|
(ppm) 12/22/2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
1 |
ND - 1 |
||
of water |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orthophosphate |
|
|
|
0.005 – |
Water additive used to inhibit |
|
(ppm) 12/22/2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.358 |
|||
0.358 |
corrosion |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pH |
|
|
|
|
Measure of how acidic or basic |
|
12/22/2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
9.38 |
8.45 – 9.38 |
||
water is |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Dissolved Solids |
|
|
|
|
Organic and inorganic materials |
|
(ppm) 12/22/2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
609 |
214 - 609 |
either naturally occurring or man- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
made that are dissolved in water |
City of Fargo 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT | Page 7
Substance (monitored at tap) (units) test date
MCL
MCLG
Highest
Compliance
Level
Range
Major Source of Contaminant
TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON REMOVAL
|
|
|
|
|
Naturally present when water |
|
Alkalinity - Source |
|
|
|
|
passes through rock and soil |
|
N/A |
N/A |
464 |
184 to 464 |
which contains carbonate, |
||
(ppm) 1/31/2020 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
bicarbonate, and hydroxide |
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
compounds |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
|
|
|
|
Naturally present in the |
|
(TOC) - Finished (ppm) |
N/A |
N/A |
6.48 |
0.00 to 6.48 |
||
environment |
||||||
1/31/2020 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total Organic Carbon |
|
|
|
|
Naturally present in the |
|
(TOC) - Source (ppm) |
N/A |
N/A |
12.6 |
6.82 to 12.6 |
||
environment |
||||||
1/31/2020 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bromate - Finished |
10 |
0 |
2 |
ND to 1.7 |
||
(ppb) 1/31/2020 |
disinfection |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Haloacetic Acids |
|
|
|
|
||
(HAA5) |
60 |
N/A |
17 |
1.6 to 20.6 |
||
disinfection |
||||||
(ppb) 9/30/2020 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total Trihalomethanes |
|
|
|
|
||
(TTHMs) |
80 |
N/A |
19 |
ND to 29.62 |
||
disinfection |
||||||
(ppb) 9/30/2020 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM
Cryptosporidium is a microbial parasite which is found in surface waters throughout the United States. Symptoms of Cryptosporidium infection may include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals that become infected are able to overcome these symptoms within a few weeks. However,
Cryptosporidium must be ingested to cause disease and it may be ingested through means other than drinking water.
Although filtration removes Cryptosporidium, the most common filtration methods cannot guarantee 100% removal. In April 2015, the City of Fargo began monthly testing to monitor source water for Cryptosporidium. This testing lasted two years and was performed in compliance with the EPA
(LT2ESWTR). The results of the 24 samples analyzed indicated an average of
0.095 oocysts per liter in the City of Fargo source water (not the finished drinking water). For Fargo, source water
is defined as the Red River and/or
Sheyenne River entering the Water Treatment Plants. This concentration of Cryptosporidium falls into the second lowest of 4 levels of treatment requirements, but requires additional treatment credits for our (LSWTP).
The City of Fargo will be installing an Ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection system which includes 3 UV reactors in the (LSWTP) to achieve the additional disinfection credits. The project will be completed in
City of Fargo 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT | Page 8
Red River Raw Water Pump Station Improvements for Capacity & Flood Protection
The Engineering Department and Water Utility are partnering on a project to improve the reliability of our Red River Pump Station. This pump station is the primary source
of drinking water for Fargo and regional customers. The raw water is treated through sophisticated treatment processes, including Reverse Osmosis and ozone. As shown
in the picture, a flood wall will run through the building and the pumping equipment will be raised to a higher elevation. The pumps will be upgraded and the capacity increased to 48 million gallons per day (MGD) to match the total capacity need of Fargo’s two treatment plants. Numerous flood protection options were explored by the Engineering Department and Water Utility prior to deciding on this most cost effective, reliable approach. A 75 percent FEMA grant of $3.56 million dollars will help pay for the flood protection portion of the project and a grant from the North Dakota State Water Commission (SWC) will help pay for the pumping capacity increase. Other improvements are also included in the project: zebra mussel mitigation, an intake screen
Our Water Supply and Drought Management
The primary water source for the City of Fargo Water Plant is the Red River. A water intake and pump station is located just east of our facility in proximity to the Midtown Dam. The City has alternate sources of water which include the Sheyenne River and water storage at Lake Ashtabula. This Sheyenne intake and pumping station is used approximately 30 % of the time and is located between the communities of West Fargo and Horace. Each pumping facility can be used independently or combined to provide source water flow into each of our treatment facilities. We focus on utilizing these sources wisely to minimize operating and treatment costs while optimizing water quality for our customers.
The City of Fargo owns 52% of the stored water rights to Lake Ashtabula. This allocation was a result of the City of Fargo helping to fund the construction of the Baldhill Dam north of Valley City. During a drought, with Corps of Engineers approval, water from Lake Ashtabula can be released into the Sheyenne River to help meet Fargo’s water needs. This lake (used in 1976, ’84, and ’88), along with water restrictions, and conservation, can help provide Fargo’s emergency water needs for approximately two years.
The City of Fargo has a drought management plan that monitors water flow, river levels and the precipitation index. The City has adopted an ordinance that mandates citizen participation during drought to reduce the impact to all water users. For more information about the drought management plan visit:
Source Water Protection
The City of Fargo public water system, in cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, has completed the delineation and contaminant/land use inventory elements of the North Dakota Source Water Protection Program. Based on the information from these elements, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality has determined our source water is moderately susceptible to potential contaminants.
You can learn more about the North Dakota Source Water Protection Program online at: https://deq.nd.gov/WQ/1_Groundwater/1_SW.aspx
Floor plan for Red River Pump Station Improvements that are currently under construction.
Pumping Capacity Expansion and Equipment Raising in
Existing Facility
New Building Addition with Integrated Floodwall, Electrical
Room and Chemical Feed System
Contaminants
City of Fargo
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the North Dakota Department of Health, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 120762
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 17
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromate
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- Bromide
- Bromoform
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Dibromochloromethane
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Molybdenum
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Strontium
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.