Decatur Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Decatur, Michigan

Decatur Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Decatur, Van Buren County, Michigan. It serves a population of approximately 1,697 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment plant within the region. The plant is situated inland, about 50 kilometers from the Lake Michigan coast, and its operations are integral to local water quality management. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for facilities of this size. With a designed capacity of 719.23 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume of 454.25 cubic meters per day, it operates below its maximum capacity. The treatment process involves lagoon-based systems, which are common for small communities in the Midwest. Regulatory oversight is provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. Treated effluent from Decatur Lagoon is discharged into local streams that eventually drain into the Paw Paw River and then into Lake Michigan. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational opportunities. The plant's performance is critical to protecting downstream water quality and the ecological health of the Lake Michigan basin.

Decatur Lagoon discharges into local tributaries of the Paw Paw River, which flows into Lake Michigan, part of the Great Lakes system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is an important recreational resource. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protect downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and other pollution impacts.