Berthold Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ward County, North Dakota

Berthold Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Ward County, North Dakota, serving a small population of 454 residents. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. As a small-scale facility, it is subject to state-level National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that govern effluent limits and monitoring. The plant utilizes secondary treatment, a biological process that reduces organic matter and suspended solids. It has a designed capacity of 189.27 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters, indicating moderate utilization. The treatment process is typical for small communities in the region, often employing lagoon systems that provide natural treatment through settling and biological activity. The treated effluent is discharged to local surface waters, likely a nearby stream or drainage that flows into the Souris River basin. The Souris River eventually drains into the Assiniboine River and then into the Red River of the North, which flows into Lake Winnipeg. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and recreation. The plant's operations are designed to protect downstream water quality in this sensitive prairie ecosystem.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse within the Souris River basin, which flows northward into the Assiniboine River and ultimately into Lake Winnipeg. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and northern pike, and is an important migratory corridor for waterfowl. The region's semi-arid climate and agricultural land use make maintaining water quality critical for both ecological health and human uses.