Donnybrook Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Donnybrook, North Dakota

Donnybrook Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Donnybrook, a small town in Ward County, North Dakota. The plant serves a population of 59 and operates as a lagoon system providing secondary treatment. It is situated in the rural Great Plains region, characterized by a semi-arid climate and agricultural land use. As a secondary treatment plant, Donnybrook Lagoon meets the minimum requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. The plant has a designed capacity of 37.85 cubic meters per day, with a similar discharge volume, indicating full utilization. Lagoon systems typically involve stabilization ponds that rely on natural biological processes. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Souris River basin, ultimately flowing into the Hudson Bay via the Nelson River system. The plant plays a key role in protecting local groundwater and surface water quality in this agriculturally intensive region, where nutrient management is critical for downstream ecosystems.

Donnybrook Lagoon discharges into the Souris River watershed, which flows north into Canada and eventually reaches Hudson Bay. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, with potential nutrient runoff concerns. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic load and suspended solids, protecting the Souris River's aquatic life and downstream water quality in the Hudson Bay drainage.