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Community Water System · PWS ND5301079

Northwest Rural Water District

Williston, North Dakota 58802-1285 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 5,102 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

5,102
People served
26
EPA violations
0
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 26 drinking-water violations at Northwest Rural Water District - below the North Dakota per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

26
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
5,102
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Northwest Rural Water District

Northwest Rural Water District is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 5,102 residents in Williston, North Dakota (Williams County) through 2,124 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 26 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 21 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 9 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.3 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across North Dakota, EPA tracks 368 public water systems serving 712,349 people, with 13,624 cumulative violations and 2,673 health-based violations on record. About 94% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 37 violations. Statewide, 34 of 38 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (89.5%).

Northwest Rural Water District's 26 violations sit below the North Dakota average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
5,102
Total Violations
26
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
2,124
County
Williams
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
21
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 9 2004
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2023
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 1993
TTHM MR 4 2023

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 9/11/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/11/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/11/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/6/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/6/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/6/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/6/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/16/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/16/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/16/2023 6.30 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 5/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Northwest Rural Water District.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID ND5301079 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

North Dakota Drinking Water Authority

North Dakota's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find ND regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2023 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 SDWIS / ND5301079 / 2456
2023 TTHM MR 4 SDWIS / ND5301079 / 2950
2004 Coliform (TCR) MR 9 SDWIS / ND5301079 / 3100
1993 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / ND5301079 / 5000

How Northwest Rural Water District Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Northwest Rural Water District North Dakota avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 26 37 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 0 7.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 89.5% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 5,102 1,936 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 368 regulated public water systems in North Dakota.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Northwest Rural Water District water safe to drink?
Northwest Rural Water District (PWS ID: ND5301079) has 26 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 5,102 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Northwest Rural Water District serve?
Northwest Rural Water District serves 5,102 people in Williston, North Dakota. It is a Private-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,124 service connections.
What type of violations does Northwest Rural Water District have?
Northwest Rural Water District has 26 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 21 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Northwest Rural Water District water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Northwest Rural Water District's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Northwest Rural Water District use?
Northwest Rural Water District uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.