Enilda Waste Water Lagoon - Secondary Treatment Plant in Big Lakes County, Alberta

Enilda Waste Water Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Big Lakes County, Alberta, Canada. The plant serves a small population of 165 residents, providing secondary treatment through a lagoon system. Its location near Range Road 160 places it within a rural setting, where it manages domestic wastewater from the local community. The plant operates under Alberta's environmental regulations, which require secondary treatment for small agglomerations to protect receiving waters. As a lagoon-based system, it relies on natural biological processes to treat wastewater before discharge. The facility's discharge volume is 74.00 cubic meters, reflecting its small service area. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Lesser Slave Lake system and then via the Lesser Slave River to the Athabasca River and the Arctic Ocean. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can influence sensitive aquatic habitats, including those supporting fish and migratory birds.

The plant discharges into the Lesser Slave Lake watershed, which flows through the Lesser Slave River into the Athabasca River and eventually the Arctic Ocean. This region supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and northern pike, and provides critical habitat for migratory waterfowl. The plant's coastal location requires careful management to prevent nutrient loading and protect downstream ecosystems.