N.D. Cent. Code § 61-35-02

A petition may at any time be filed with the department of water resources requesting the department to organize a district encompassing an area in one county or in two or more adjacent counties for the purpose of providing an adequate supply of water for the residents of the area. An area to be included in a district may not include property then included in any other district or included in the service area of a nonprofit corporation or cooperative association established under title 10 to operate a rural water system, except as otherwise permitted under section 61-35-25.