Is Dickinson, ND tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Dickinson.
2 public water systems serve parts of Dickinson. The largest, City of Dickinson, serves 25,679 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
City of Dickinson
25,679 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID ND4500242
Buys treated water from Southwest Water Authority.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 5.29 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across North Dakota, 0 of 41 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 3 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. North Dakota results.
Dickinson homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Dickinson city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Dickinson
- Southwest Water Authority8,537 people · Surface water · North Dakota · lists this cityLithium above screening level
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mandan 90 mi City of Mandan | None above limits | 4.2 ppb |
| Bismarck 96 mi City of Bismarck | None above limits | 2.8 ppb |
| Williston 97 mi City of Williston | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Minot 117 mi City of Minot | None above limits | 13.5 ppb |
| West Fargo 278 mi City of West Fargo | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Grand Forks 278 mi Grand Forks Regional Water Treatment Plant | None above limits | 8.91 ppb |
Dickinson ZIP codes (1)
- 58601
Questions
Is Dickinson tap water safe to drink?
City of Dickinson has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Dickinson, ND?
2 public water systems serve parts of Dickinson. The largest is City of Dickinson (25,679 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Dickinson tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Dickinson had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Dickinson homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 39% of Dickinson homes as built before 1980 (North Dakota: 48%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. City of Dickinson's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.