Burke County, North Dakota
6 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Recent monitoring in Burke County's 6 ZIP codes shows middle-tier safety — some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Burke County Compares
How Burke County Compares
Burke County scores 10 points above the North Dakota state average (56/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Burke County, North Dakota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.2 (asthma 9.7%, diabetes 11.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $773, driven primarily by water_lead
Infrastructure: 0.465% avg pipe failure probability, 83% of ZIPs at high risk
80.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Burke County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 3 total (3 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $773
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
1,424 housing units in Burke County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Burke County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Burke County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Burke County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Burke County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R & T WATER SYSTEM | 1,003 | 11 |
| 2 | City of Flaxton | 66 | 11 |
| 3 | City of Bowbells | 336 | 0 |
| 4 | City of Columbus | 133 | 0 |
| 5 | City of Lignite | 155 | 0 |
7 total water systems serve Burke County.
All ZIP Codes in Burke County
6 ZIP codes tracked in Burke County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58737 | Flaxton | 67 | C | 11 (3 health) | — |
| 2 | 58721 | Bowbells | 66 | C | 0 | $137K |
| 3 | 58727 | Columbus | 66 | C | 0 | $258K |
| 4 | 58752 | Lignite | 66 | C | 0 | $123K |
| 5 | 58772 | Portal | 66 | C | 0 | $79K |
| 6 | 58773 | Powers Lake | 66 | C | 0 | $255K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Burke County
Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 80.5% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Burke County, North Dakota
Overview
Burke County in North Dakota covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).
1 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to North Dakota water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.