Overview
BELGRADE LAGOONS serves about 5,500 people in Gallatin County, Montana. The facility treats wastewater using lagoon systems and discharges into the local watershed.
BELGRADE LAGOONS is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located near Powers in Gallatin County, Montana. It serves a population of approximately 5,500 residents, making it a small-to-medium agglomeration under U.S. EPA classification. The plant is situated in a rural area of southwestern Montana, near the Gallatin River. As a lagoon-based system, the facility relies on natural biological processes for treatment. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such plants are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The lagoon design is common in smaller communities due to lower operational costs and effective treatment for organic pollutants. The treated effluent from BELGRADE LAGOONS ultimately drains into the Gallatin River, a tributary of the Missouri River. The Gallatin River is a blue-ribbon trout stream and supports diverse aquatic life. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the Missouri River Basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.
Environmental context
The facility discharges into the Gallatin River, a major tributary of the Missouri River. The Gallatin River is known for its cold-water fishery and supports species such as rainbow and brown trout. Downstream, the Missouri River flows through the Great Plains and into the Mississippi River, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed is ecologically sensitive, with seasonal variations in flow and temperature affecting aquatic habitats. Proper treatment is essential to protect these downstream ecosystems from nutrient loading and pathogens.
Frequently asked questions
BELGRADE LAGOONS is located on Lagoon Road near Powers in Gallatin County, Montana, United States. It serves the surrounding rural community.
The plant serves approximately 5,500 residents, typical of a small-to-medium community in Montana.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Gallatin River, a tributary of the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
Plants of this size often use lagoon systems or activated sludge processes. Under the Clean Water Act, secondary treatment is required, and lagoon systems are common in rural areas for their cost-effectiveness and reliable performance.
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