North Dakota Emergency Water Supply Program

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) Emergency Water Supply Program will reimburse livestock owners with verifiable water losses from the drought for 50% of eligible costs for temporary water supply, equipment and hauling, up to $4,500 per individual.

Who is eligible for this program?

• Livestock owners who have verifiable water losses from drought and must purchase water and/or transport water to livestock

  • Water losses verifiable through the following

    • Photos

    • Written descriptions

• Must own breeding livestock

  • For the purposes of this program, breeding livestock is defined as; beef and dairy cows, bison, sheep, and goats

• Must have a minimum of 25 animal unit equivalents. The Animal Unit Equivalents Guide is adopted from the NRCS National Rangeland and Pasture Handbook

• The following will be considered “water”

  • Purchased from rural water system or municipality

  • Water from personal wells or on farm rural water is only eligible for transportation assistance.

• The following will be considered equipment for rental assistance

  • Storage tanks, transportation tanks, and other material to assist in transportation of water.

What is eligible for assistance?

• Transportation costs for water incurred between July 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021.

  • Water must be used for the purposes of your own livestock operation

• Eligibility details

  • Eligible for reimbursement of a portion of expenses based on loaded mile of purchased water delivered. Eligible mileage expenses include the following:

    • Personal mileage – rate will be set at $2.00 per mile

    • Commercial mileage – rate will be based on total amount charged

      • Expense must be per mile basis for transportation

      • Reimbursement will be percentage based

  • Receipts received for pick-up and trailer transportation will be prorated accordingly

  • Receipts for rental of equipment will be prorated based on averages of program.

  • Receipts for water purchase will be prorated based on averages of program.

    • If water receipt not available, please document where water was purchased and number of gallons.

  • Commercial rates higher than program average will be reduced to average or rejected

  • Receipts received at other than per mile will be based on program average or rejected.

• Must have receipts for purchased water and/or have transportation costs associated due to the loss of water supply

Completed application must include:

• A signed IRS W-9 form

• Third party verification of water loss form completed by bank, county extension agent, or veterinarian 

• All receipts must be included

• Producer must agree to terms on the application form  

Submit your complete application online at this link.

• EWSP flyer

• Regional Water System Map

• Rural Water System Map

• State Water Council Memorandum

• Third Party Verification of Water Losses

• Water Sources July 2021 - Livestock Assistance West & Central