Lead Service Lines in Williston
What you need to know
Williston serves about 26,426 people in North Dakota. Like many communities across the US, the city is working to identify and replace lead service lines — the pipes that bring water from the main water line into homes.
A lead service line is a direct path for lead to enter your drinking water. Even low levels of lead exposure can be harmful, especially for young children and pregnant people. If your home was built before the 1980s, there's a higher chance your service line contains lead.
Where Williston stands
The city has not yet completed a full inventory of lead service lines. This means the utility doesn't yet have a complete picture of how many lead lines exist in the system. Without this inventory, residents can't know for certain whether their home is affected.
The city uses surface water as its primary source. The next step is for Williston to survey all service lines and document which ones contain lead, which are galvanized (which can also corrode and release lead), and which are safe.
What you can do now
Contact your water utility to ask:
- Does the city have records of your service line material?
- What is the timeline for completing the full inventory?
- Are there any interim steps residents can take to reduce lead exposure?
You can also have your water tested. A simple test costs $20–40 at many hardware stores or labs, though your utility may offer free testing.
If you have young children or are pregnant, talk to your pediatrician or doctor about lead exposure risks in your area.
Next steps for residents
- Call or email Williston water utility to ask if they have service line records for your address
- Request a water test through your utility or a local lab if you're concerned
- Check the EPA's lead reduction tips at epa.gov for interim steps (flushing, using filters) while you wait for answers
- Talk to your doctor if anyone in your household has health concerns related to lead
Key figures
| Total inventoried lines | 0 |
|---|---|
| BIL/IIJA funding received | — |
| Replacement plan status | Not reported |
| Utility's LCRR inventory | Not provided |
Frequently asked
Does Williston have lead in the water?
Williston is still completing its inventory of lead service lines, so the full picture isn't yet public. Lead gets into water through old pipes, not from the water source itself. Contact the utility to find out if your home's service line is documented.
How do I know if my house has a lead service line?
Homes built before the 1980s are more likely to have lead lines. Call Williston's water utility with your address—they may have records. You can also hire a plumber to inspect the line where it enters your home.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Williston?
Williston treats its water to reduce lead leaching. If you're worried, you can have your water tested cheaply at a local lab or ask the utility for free testing. A filter certified for lead removal (NSF/ANSI Standard 53) also works.
What is the city doing about lead service lines?
The city is working to complete an inventory of which service lines contain lead. Once the inventory is done, Williston can develop a replacement plan. Check back with the utility for updates on their timeline.