Is tap water safe in Bismarck?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Bismarck, ND?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 503 ppm (29.4 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 58501?

At 503 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Bismarck water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Bismarck, North Dakota.

Median indexed hardness

503PPM

4 indexed ZIPs

Range 499.5–503 PPM

State comparison: 131 PPM above
State hardness rank: #8 of 210
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Bismarck has 4 published ZIP profiles across Burleigh County. The indexed median is 503 PPM, compared with 372 PPM across North Dakota.

Among the 210 North Dakotacities with an indexed median, Bismarck ranks #8from highest to lowest. Across all 226 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 170.5to 716 PPM.

The 499.5–503 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard4 ZIPs

4 of 4 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 3.7 miles
Profiles with evidence: 4/4

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 4Low: 0

Bismarck City Of

PWSID ND0800080

Groundwater influenced by surface water

System population served: 72,417
Last reported: Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

No violation records are included in the current lookback window.

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other North Dakota communities

Wilton

Burleigh County

500 PPM median

Wing

Burleigh County

288 PPM median

Underwood

Mclean County

503 PPM median

Washburn

Mclean County

503 PPM median

New Salem

Morton County

501 PPM median

Stanton

Mercer County

500 PPM median

Search all 210 North Dakota cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Bismarck

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 503 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.