FARGO (AP) - The state water quality director says neighboring communities may need to work together on water treatment rules to deal with the area's growth.

Dennis Fewless, director of the state Health Department's Division of Water Quality, said the idea has gained momentum in part because of worries about discharge from the city of Horace's lagoons. He said Horace does not have to meet the same stringent stormwater regulations as Fargo because of its size.

"It's turning into a big metropolitan area that has a lot of satellite factions in there, and we think it would be good to work with everybody to come up with an overall plan for that area," Fewless said.

Fargo City Administrator Pat Zavoral said the discharge from the Horace lagoons may be affecting water quality upstream from Fargo's water treatment plant.

In seven of the 10 samples taken since June 2001, Horace has exceeded its permit level of 30 milligrams per liter for total suspended solids, Health Department records show.

The latest sample from Horace's lagoons, taken April 26, met all permit limits, Fewless said.

Horace Mayor John Goerger said the city just adopted a new system that uses microorganisms to eat suspended solids and reduce the lagoon smell.

John Dingess, a Denver attorney hired by Fargo to work on water issues, said Horace's lagoon permits were issued when the city was much smaller, with treatment based on lower volumes. Census figures show Horace's population increased from 662 in 1990 to an estimated 1,034 in 2004.

The idea of a metro-wide water plan is in the very early stages, Fewless said. But as Fargo, West Fargo and Horace extend their boundaries, the state is confident it can work with the three cities, he said.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com