COUNTY REPORT ND

Foster County, North Dakota

4 ZIP codes · Avg score 56/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Water monitoring across Foster County's 4 ZIP codes paints a mid-range picture — solid compliance in some zones, documented concerns in others; most violations on record are concentrated in specific prior years rather than spread evenly across the full compliance history, and the overall county grade has held steady in the middle tier without major shifts in either direction.

How Foster County Compares

Foster County56/100
North Dakota avg56/100
National avg68/100

How Foster County Compares

C
County Grade
56/100
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems

Foster County scores 0 points above the North Dakota state average (56/100) and 12 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
56
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 58443 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 58421 (48/100)
$138K
Median Home Value
$2,400
Avg Remediation (174% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.5 (asthma 10%, diabetes 11.8%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $663, driven primarily by water_lead

Infrastructure: 0.412% avg pipe failure probability, 75% of ZIPs at high risk

76.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.8% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35.7% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1972
Median Build Year
76.8%
Pre-1978 Housing
41%
Pipe Failure Probability
75%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $663

Water / Lead $238/yr
Energy Code Gap $225/yr
Flood $200/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

1,832 housing units in Foster County

Pre-1940 15%
1940–1959 14%
1960–1979 43%
1980–1999 10%
2000+ 18%

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 Foster County

$138K
Median Home Value
$2,400
Est. Remediation Cost
1.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Foster 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 Foster County residents

Asthma 10% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.8% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35.7% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Foster County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Stutsman Rural Water District 5,550 1
2 Greater Ramsey Water District 5,280 1
3 Central Plains Water District 3,504 1
4 City of Carrington 2,065 1
5 City of Glenfield 91 0

All ZIP Codes in Foster County

4 ZIP codes tracked in Foster County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 58443 Glenfield 70 B 0 $56K
2 58445 Grace City 53 D 0 $120K
3 58464 Mchenry 53 D 0 $156K
4 58421 Carrington 48 D 1 $169K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Foster County

Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.

Overview

Foster County in North Dakota covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (56/100).

1 of 4 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to North Dakota water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Foster County?
Foster County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Foster County?
Foster County is served by 5 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 4 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Foster County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Foster County is water_lead. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $663 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Foster County?
The median home build year in Foster County is 1972. 76.8% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Foster County compare to North Dakota?
Foster County has an average water safety score of 56/100, which is above the North Dakota state average of 56/100.

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