EMIDA LAGOON SYSTEM Wastewater Treatment Plant, Emida, Idaho

The EMIDA LAGOON SYSTEM is a wastewater treatment facility located in Emida, a small community in Benewah County, Idaho, United States. The plant serves a population of 77 and operates with secondary treatment, which is typical for small rural systems in the region. It has a designed capacity of 37.85 cubic meters per day, matching its current discharge volume. As a small facility in the United States, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, issued by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, govern its operations to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the St. Joe River and then into Lake Coeur d'Alene, part of the Spokane River basin. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for recreational fishing and water quality in the Pacific Northwest.

The plant discharges into the St. Joe River watershed, which flows into Lake Coeur d'Alene and then the Spokane River, eventually reaching the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. The area supports sensitive aquatic ecosystems, including salmonid habitats, and maintaining water quality is critical for downstream communities and wildlife.