Overview
Hankinson Lagoon is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 819 residents in Hankinson, North Dakota. It discharges treated effluent into local waterways under US EPA and state regulatory oversight.
Hankinson Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Hankinson, Richland County, North Dakota. The plant serves a small population of 819 residents and operates as a lagoon-based secondary treatment system, typical for rural communities in the Upper Midwest. Its location in the Red River Valley places it within the broader Missouri River drainage basin, though local discharge is to nearby streams or wetlands. As a secondary treatment facility, Hankinson Lagoon meets the minimum requirements under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. The plant has a designed capacity of 567.81 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 264.98 cubic meters, indicating ample reserve capacity. Plants of this scale in North Dakota are typically regulated under the state's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent from Hankinson Lagoon ultimately drains into the Red River of the North, which flows northward into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. This watershed is ecologically significant as part of the Prairie Pothole Region, supporting diverse waterfowl and aquatic species. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive transboundary basin.
Environmental context
Hankinson Lagoon discharges into local tributaries that flow into the Red River of the North, which eventually reaches Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. The Red River Valley is a flat, agriculturally intensive region where nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms in Lake Winnipeg. The surrounding Prairie Pothole Region provides critical habitat for migratory birds and amphibians, making local water quality management important for ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
Hankinson Lagoon is located at 463 Main Avenue South in Hankinson, Richland County, North Dakota, United States.
The plant serves a population of 819 residents in the city of Hankinson and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that flow into the Red River of the North, which ultimately reaches Lake Winnipeg in Canada.
Hankinson Lagoon provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater plants.
As a US plant, Hankinson Lagoon operates under the Clean Water Act and is likely permitted through the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality's NPDES program, which sets discharge limits for pollutants.
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