Overview
Gildford Lagoon is a secondary treatment plant serving 185 people in Hill County, Montana. It discharges 68.14 megaliters annually and has a designed capacity of 75.71 megaliters.
Gildford Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Hill County, Montana, United States. It serves a small population of 185 residents, reflecting its role as a rural lagoon system typical of the region's dispersed communities. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 75.71 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 68.14 megaliters, the facility operates within its capacity. As a lagoon system, it relies on natural biological processes to treat wastewater before discharge. The treated effluent is released into the local watershed, which drains into the Milk River and eventually the Missouri River system. This waterway supports agricultural irrigation and provides habitat for fish and wildlife in the Northern Plains region. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this semi-arid landscape.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Milk River watershed, a tributary of the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. This semi-arid region relies on surface water for agriculture and livestock, making the plant's nutrient removal important for preventing algal blooms and maintaining aquatic health downstream.
Frequently asked questions
Gildford Lagoon is located in Hill County, Montana, United States, serving a small rural community.
The plant serves approximately 185 people, typical of a small lagoon system in rural Montana.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Milk River and eventually the Missouri River system.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with permits issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to ensure compliance with secondary treatment standards.
Small plants like Gildford Lagoon commonly use lagoon or pond systems providing secondary treatment, which is the minimum required under the Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater.
Nearby plants