Quick answer
About 97,000 people in North Dakota (14.4% of residents) got their water from private wells in 2010, according to USGS estimates. North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality runs the state’s private well guidance. We didn’t find a free statewide well testing program in North Dakota. Certified labs charge for each test, and some county health departments offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
- People on private wells
- 96,883
- Share of residents
- 14.4%
- Rank among states
- 47th
- Well users modeled above 10 µg/L arsenic
- 6.9%
Where to get your well tested in North Dakota
- North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality: Water Well Information, the state’s guidance for private well owners.
- Well water testing in North Dakota: what to test for and how to collect a sample.
Free or low-cost testing
We didn’t find a free statewide program in North Dakota. Certified labs charge per test; county health departments sometimes offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
Mail-in lab kits are another option when no local lab is convenient. See well water test kits for what home kits can and can’t tell you.
What to test for
- Every year: total coliform bacteria and nitrate.
- Before buying equipment: pH, hardness, iron, manganese and, if there’s a smell, hydrogen sulfide.
- Based on location: arsenic, uranium and radon, PFAS, and lead in older plumbing.
USGS modeling estimates that about 6.9% of North Dakota’s private well users have water above the 10 µg/L arsenic limit. Arsenic has no taste or smell, so include it in your first test.
Private wells by county
Estimated people relying on private wells in each North Dakota county in 2010, the share of residents that represents, and the modeled share of well users with arsenic above 10 µg/L. These are USGS model estimates (2010 population), not measurements of any well. Arsenic is hidden for counties with fewer than 500 well users.
| County | People on wells | Share | Arsenic >10 µg/L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burleigh County | 7,923 | 9.7% | 9.0% |
| Ward County | 5,652 | 9.2% | 6.9% |
| Morton County | 5,018 | 18.3% | 5.0% |
| Cass County | 4,353 | 2.9% | 13.5% |
| Stark County | 3,990 | 16.5% | 5.3% |
| Ramsey County | 3,609 | 31.5% | 8.5% |
| Stutsman County | 3,486 | 16.5% | 6.6% |
| Benson County | 3,284 | 49.3% | 10.1% |
| Richland County | 3,147 | 19.3% | 7.9% |
| McLean County | 3,072 | 34.3% | 5.0% |
| McKenzie County | 2,996 | 47.1% | 4.3% |
| Williams County | 2,811 | 12.5% | 6.9% |
Show all 53 counties
| Rolette County | 2,567 | 18.4% | 5.8% |
| Mountrail County | 2,208 | 28.8% | 6.7% |
| McHenry County | 2,059 | 38.2% | 8.9% |
| LaMoure County | 1,964 | 47.5% | 6.0% |
| Ransom County | 1,927 | 35.3% | 4.9% |
| Dickey County | 1,836 | 34.7% | 9.6% |
| Mercer County | 1,794 | 21.3% | 4.3% |
| Bottineau County | 1,783 | 27.7% | 4.8% |
| Dunn County | 1,715 | 48.5% | 5.0% |
| Cavalier County | 1,587 | 39.7% | 3.9% |
| Barnes County | 1,504 | 13.6% | 6.7% |
| Kidder County | 1,391 | 57.1% | 8.0% |
| Sargent County | 1,364 | 35.6% | 8.2% |
| Pierce County | 1,327 | 30.5% | 7.0% |
| Walsh County | 1,283 | 11.5% | 5.3% |
| Emmons County | 1,270 | 35.8% | 8.0% |
| Grand Forks County | 1,259 | 1.9% | 7.2% |
| Oliver County | 1,229 | 66.6% | 4.0% |
| Hettinger County | 1,177 | 47.5% | 5.5% |
| Grant County | 1,168 | 48.8% | 5.0% |
| Sioux County | 1,125 | 27.1% | 6.5% |
| Foster County | 942 | 28.2% | 5.0% |
| Bowman County | 900 | 28.6% | 4.8% |
| Pembina County | 900 | 12.1% | 6.5% |
| Logan County | 889 | 44.7% | 4.0% |
| Nelson County | 866 | 27.7% | 5.0% |
| Towner County | 853 | 38.0% | 7.0% |
| Adams County | 841 | 35.9% | 6.0% |
| Wells County | 808 | 19.2% | 5.9% |
| Divide County | 765 | 36.9% | 8.0% |
| McIntosh County | 762 | 27.1% | 6.0% |
| Sheridan County | 748 | 56.6% | 6.0% |
| Burke County | 740 | 37.6% | 7.0% |
| Griggs County | 710 | 29.3% | 5.0% |
| Eddy County | 609 | 25.5% | 5.0% |
| Billings County | 604 | 77.1% | 7.0% |
| Slope County | 565 | 77.7% | 5.0% |
| Golden Valley County | 503 | 29.9% | 4.0% |
| Traill County | 364 | 4.5% | – |
| Renville County | 335 | 13.6% | – |
| Steele County | 301 | 15.3% | – |
Counties with the highest modeled arsenic share: Cass County (13.5%), Benson County (10.1%), Dickey County (9.6%), Burleigh County (9.0%), McHenry County (8.9%).
After you get results
Enter your numbers in the test results tool to see what needs treating and in what order. The guide to reading a well water test explains units and limits.
Common questions
Does North Dakota offer free well water testing?
We didn’t find a free statewide well testing program in North Dakota. Certified labs charge for each test, and some county health departments offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
Who oversees private wells in North Dakota?
North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (Water Well Information) publishes guidance for private well owners. Private wells aren’t covered by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, so testing and treatment are up to the owner.
How many people use private wells in North Dakota?
USGS estimates about 97,000 people, or 14.4% of the population in 2010. That ranks 47th of the states covered by the estimate.
What should I test my well for in North Dakota?
Test every year for total coliform bacteria and nitrate, plus pH, hardness, iron and manganese before buying equipment. Arsenic is a known concern in parts of North Dakota, so add it to the first test.
Sources
- North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality: Water Well Information
- North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality: well water testing
- USGS data release: domestic well locations and populations served, 2000 and 2010 (Johnson, Belitz and Lombard, 2019)
- CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking: private well water data (from USGS)