ELLENDALE LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ellendale, North Dakota

The ELLENDALE LAGOON is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ellendale, Dickey County, North Dakota. Serving a population of 1,394, it provides secondary treatment for the community's wastewater. The plant's designed capacity is 454.25 thousand cubic meters per year, matching its discharge volume. As a secondary treatment facility, the ELLENDALE LAGOON meets the minimum requirements under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. Plants of this scale in the United States typically operate under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the state environmental agency, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the James River basin, eventually reaching the Missouri River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems from nutrient pollution and pathogens, supporting regional water quality goals.

The ELLENDALE LAGOON discharges into the James River watershed, which flows south through North Dakota and South Dakota before joining the Missouri River. The Missouri River then empties into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. This downstream chain supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds and fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf.