Ashland Sewage Lagoons - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Ashland, Maine

Ashland Sewage Lagoons is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 115 Portage Road in Ashland, Maine. Serving a population of approximately 660, the plant provides secondary treatment for the community's wastewater, operating as part of the town's essential infrastructure. The plant employs secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 681.37 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a US plant of this scale, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to regulate discharges. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Aroostook River, a tributary of the Saint John River, which ultimately drains into the Bay of Fundy. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this rural watershed, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into local waterways that feed the Aroostook River, part of the Saint John River basin. This watershed drains into the Bay of Fundy, a globally significant marine ecosystem known for its high tidal range and diverse marine life. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream habitats including fish spawning grounds and migratory bird corridors.