Overview
Hampden Lagoon is a secondary treatment plant serving 48 people in Hampden, North Dakota. It discharges 18.93 megaliters of treated wastewater annually, with a designed capacity of 37.85 megaliters.
Hampden Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Hampden, Ramsey County, North Dakota. It serves a small population of 48 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant operates as a lagoon system, a common treatment method for small communities in the northern Great Plains. The plant provides secondary treatment, which meets the minimum standard under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 37.85 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 18.93 megaliters, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a small system, it is subject to state-level permitting under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters, likely a tributary of the Red River Basin, which flows north into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. The plant's location in a rural, agricultural watershed means its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the region, supporting downstream ecosystems and agricultural uses.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a small watercourse within the Red River Basin, which ultimately drains into Lake Winnipeg. This watershed is characterized by flat terrain and intensive agriculture, making nutrient management a key concern. The Red River and Lake Winnipeg experience eutrophication issues linked to phosphorus and nitrogen runoff, so even small wastewater discharges contribute to the cumulative nutrient load. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants but does not specifically target nutrient removal.
Frequently asked questions
Hampden Lagoon is located in Hampden, Ramsey County, North Dakota, United States.
The plant serves a small population of 48 residents in the rural community of Hampden.
The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters within the Red River Basin, which flows north into Lake Winnipeg in Canada.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.
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