Burlington Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Burlington, North Dakota

Burlington Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Burlington, Ward County, North Dakota. The plant serves a small community of about 799 people, reflecting the rural character of the region. It operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required for most municipal facilities in the US. Its designed capacity is 189.27 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 151.42 cubic meters per day. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Souris River basin. The Souris River flows north into Canada and eventually into Hudson Bay. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this transboundary watershed, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses.

Burlington Lagoon discharges into the Souris River watershed, which flows northward through North Dakota into Manitoba, Canada, and eventually reaches Hudson Bay. The Souris River supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is used for irrigation, recreation, and as a habitat for fish and wildlife. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollutant loads, mitigating potential impacts on downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive prairie river system.