Overview
Eureka Lagoons is a secondary wastewater treatment plant in Lincoln County, Montana, serving a population of 1,043. It discharges treated effluent into local waterways, supporting the region's water quality.
Eureka Lagoons is a wastewater treatment facility located in Lincoln County, Montana, United States. The plant serves a small community of approximately 1,043 residents, providing secondary treatment to manage municipal wastewater. As a lagoon-based system, it relies on natural processes to treat sewage before discharge. Operating under the U.S. Clean Water Act, the plant is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant's designed capacity is 794.93 units, with an average daily discharge volume of 681.37 units, indicating it operates below capacity. The treated effluent from Eureka Lagoons is discharged into nearby water bodies that ultimately drain into the Kootenai River basin. The Kootenai River flows through Montana and Idaho into British Columbia, Canada, and eventually joins the Columbia River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional ecology and recreation.
Environmental context
Eureka Lagoons discharges into local streams that are part of the Kootenai River watershed. The Kootenai River flows north into Canada and then west to join the Columbia River, which empties into the Pacific Ocean. This basin supports critical habitat for fish species such as bull trout and white sturgeon, and the plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads to protect downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Eureka Lagoons is located in Lincoln County, Montana, United States. The facility serves the Eureka area and surrounding communities.
The plant serves a population of approximately 1,043 residents, making it a small-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant uses a lagoon system for secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into local waterways that drain into the Kootenai River basin.
As a U.S. facility, Eureka Lagoons operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
Small plants in Montana often use lagoon or pond systems for secondary treatment, which are cost-effective for rural communities. They must meet state and federal effluent standards to protect receiving waters.
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