Water Quality Regulations and the Red River

• Is the major source of water for household and industry use.
• Receives the treated discharge from wastewater treatment plants.
• Receives the untreated discharge from rain and snow melt (storm water).
• Is used for boating, fishing, and other recreational activities.
• Is the home to a host of plants and animals including game fish and water fowl.
• Supports a rich zone of river bank (riparian) habitat.

Water quality regulations safeguard the river for recreational, industrial, and community use.

Regulations that Ensure the Quality of River Water
Water quality standards and TMDLs (total maximum daily load calculations) safeguard the quality of water in the Red River for uses that include fishing, boating, and swimming. These regulations also ensure that the water in the Red River can be easily treated. Click here to learn about water quality standards. Click here to learn about TMDLs.

Regulations that Ensure the Quality of Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Primary Drinking Water Regulations are geared to protect human health by controlling the levels of contaminants including toxins and pathogens in drinking water supplies. The maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) set under the Primary Standards are legally enforceable and the public must be informed if concentrations are exceeded or if required monitoring is not performed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations are guidelines to protect the aesthetic qualities of water like taste

MCLs (maximum contaminant limits) are enforceable standards that protect health and SMCLs (secondary maximum contaminant limits) are guidelines that address taste and appearance.

and smell. The secondary maximum contaminant levels (SMCLs) set under the Secondary Standards are guidelines and are not enforceable. Click here to learn about Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Standards.

Regulations that Ensure Proper Disposal and Discharge into the Red River
Controlling point and non-point source discharges to the river also protects its quality. Point sources (including the publicly owned treatment works [wastewater treatment plants] in the FM area and industry discharges) are governed under the Clean Water Act. Click on the links to learn more about wastewater treatment in Fargo and Moorhead.

Non-point source pollution (including storm water) is governed by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Click on the links to learn more about storm water in the FM area, the NPDES Storm Water Program and to learn what Fargo and Moorhead are doing to meet the new NPDES Phase II storm water regulations.