Overview
ELK MOUNTAIN LAGOON is a secondary treatment plant serving 191 people in Carbon County, Wyoming, USA. It discharges 75.71 units of treated wastewater daily.
ELK MOUNTAIN LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States. The plant serves a small population of 191 residents, reflecting its role as a local lagoon system for a rural community. It is situated near the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, providing accessible infrastructure for the area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 151.42 units and a current discharge volume of 75.71 units, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. As a lagoon system, it likely uses natural biological processes in aerated or facultative ponds to treat wastewater before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, contributing to the North Platte River watershed, which ultimately drains into the Missouri River and then the Mississippi River system. The plant's inland location, over 50 km from the coast, means its discharge affects freshwater ecosystems rather than marine environments. The surrounding region is semi-arid with cold winters, so the plant's operation supports local water quality and downstream habitats.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local stream that feeds into the North Platte River, a major tributary of the Missouri River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including trout species in colder headwaters and warmwater fish downstream. The semi-arid climate means the plant's effluent contributes to base flow in receiving waters, which is critical for maintaining habitat during dry periods. The facility's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
ELK MOUNTAIN LAGOON is located in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States, near the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
The plant serves a small population of 191 residents, typical of a rural lagoon system in Wyoming.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body that flows into the North Platte River, part of the Missouri River basin.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is likely permitted through the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, which enforces National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
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