North Dakota's Water Issues
A delicate balancing act between supply and demand

Of the factors that will shape North Dakota's future, water is the least understood and least talked about by the state's citizens. During a time when the American public spends more than $10,000 a minute on designer water, very little attention is paid to the water that gushes so obediently from their kitchen faucets.

More Precious Than Gold examines the important issues facing North Dakota and poses the questions the region must answer about its future. What must we do to improve the supply and quality of water on the Indian reservations, to rural residents, to small communities with antiquated infrastructure, and to large population centers outgrowing their current water sources? How will we supply water to our growing population centers in times of drought? Will we be able to meet our own water needs and the demands of upstream and downstream concerns? How can we answer concerns about biota transfer? What can be done to ensure that every North Dakotan has an adequate supply of high quality, affordable water?

"Water is a delicate balancing act," said Bob Dambach, executive producer of More Precious Than Gold. “Decisions made about increasing Fargo's water supply impact the Missouri Valley Basin. The Devils Lake outlet has ramifications throughout the state and in Canada. Water quality concerns in southwestern North Dakota are reflected in the eastern part of the state. Developing tourism will impact agriculture. And there are huge price tags on water projects. It is time the public begins to view the water issue from a statewide perspective.”

According to Mark Twain “Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting about.” As lawsuits over the Devils Lake outlet, Northwest Area Water Supply and the management of Lake Sakakawea water levels move through the courts, North Dakota policymakers must forge solutions to local water problems that have statewide impact.