Esmond Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Benson County, North Dakota

Esmond Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Benson County, North Dakota, United States. The plant serves a small population of around 100 residents, reflecting its role as a rural community treatment system. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The facility has a designed capacity of 75.71 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 37.85 cubic meters, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent from Esmond Lagoon is discharged into local surface waters, which eventually drain into the Missouri River watershed. This region is part of the Great Plains, characterized by prairie landscapes and seasonal wetlands. The plant's discharge contributes to the water quality of downstream ecosystems, supporting aquatic life and agricultural uses in the area.

Esmond Lagoon discharges into local streams that flow into the Missouri River basin, which ultimately reaches the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding area includes prairie pothole wetlands, which are critical for migratory birds and waterfowl. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect these sensitive ecosystems from nutrient pollution and organic loading.