Buffalo Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cass County, North Dakota

Buffalo Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Cass County, North Dakota, serving a small population of 188 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States, ensuring that pollutants are reduced before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 94.64 megaliters and currently treats 75.71 megaliters annually, operating well within its capacity. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the state of North Dakota to regulate discharges. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Red River of the North, which flows north into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds in the Prairie Pothole Region.

The plant discharges into the Red River of the North basin, which flows through North Dakota and Minnesota into Lake Winnipeg. This watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic species and serving as a critical habitat for migratory waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region. The area's flat terrain and seasonal flooding influence nutrient transport and water quality.