Overview
Crystal Lagoon is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving Crystal, North Dakota, with a design capacity of 75.71 units. It discharges treated effluent into local waterways, supporting the Red River Basin ecosystem.
Crystal Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Crystal, North Dakota, a small community in Pembina County near the Canadian border. The plant serves a population of 138 residents, reflecting its role as a small-scale treatment system for the rural area. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a design capacity of 75.71 units and a discharge volume matching that figure, the plant operates at full capacity. As a US facility, it falls under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which regulates discharges to surface waters. Treated wastewater from Crystal Lagoon ultimately drains into the Red River of the North, which flows northward into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Hudson Bay drainage basin. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Environmental context
Crystal Lagoon discharges into local tributaries that feed the Red River of the North, which flows through North Dakota and Manitoba into Lake Winnipeg. This watershed is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin and supports important fish populations, including walleye and northern pike. The region's flat terrain and cold climate require careful management of nutrient loads to prevent eutrophication in downstream lakes.
Frequently asked questions
Crystal Lagoon is located on Appleton Avenue in Crystal, North Dakota, within Pembina County near the Canadian border.
Crystal Lagoon serves a population of 138 residents in the small community of Crystal, North Dakota.
Crystal Lagoon discharges treated effluent into local waterways that flow into the Red River of the North, which ultimately reaches Lake Winnipeg.
As a US wastewater plant, Crystal Lagoon operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to NPDES permit requirements enforced by the state of North Dakota.
Small US plants serving fewer than 500 people often use lagoon systems or package plants providing secondary treatment, as mandated by the Clean Water Act for most surface water discharges.
Nearby plants